Sling Suspension Therapy

About the Book

The idea of a manual covering sling suspension therapy initially came to me about 1974 and a few years later I decided to include amputee therapy. The manual provides rough sketches of the techniques which are categorized so that cervical joint, arm and shoulder, lumbar spine joint, hip, knee, foot and ankle injuries as well as amputee therapy are all covered. Sling suspension therapy and amputee therapy are two modalities which have been the practice of therapists and prosthetists to look after. Sling suspension therapy is a well established form of physical therapy since it contributes towards the restoration of joint motions and tissue stretching. The principles explaining the subject of suspension therapy are described in several textbooks, but common to all is a lack of good illustrations accompanied by minimal text. The purpose of the manual SLING SUSPENSION THERAPY is to illuminate and guide. SLING SUPENSION THERAPY provides a good variety of techniques for sling situations with exercise choice more clearly defined as well as illustrations of the equipment required for these techniques. The manual would not be out of place on the book display or library shelf of every hospital medical library, prosthetic shop, and sports injuries and physiotherapy departments around the world.

About the Author

John/George Barling was born in England and emigrated to Canada in 1961. During the passage of time since those long ago days, he earned his living as a therapist. Mr. Barling worked for 32 years in a large rehabilitation centre treating pre-dominately orthopaedic injuries. Of these years, several were devoted to the rehabilitation of amputees and several to exploring and practicing the potential of sling suspension therapy. In 1974 the author's mind was first seeded with the idea of writing a manual. The amputee section developed later and the manual was completed with the help of Stan Wilkes as illustrator.

Mr. Barling has always enjoyed his work as a therapist, but retired at the end of May, 1995, a month after his 65th birthday. He developed Parkinson's disease in 1993 but is managing quite well. He enjoys hiking, canoeing, amateur photography and cycle touring in Britain.