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Ruth Werner

Ruth Werner

Author, Educator, Artist

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Author

BOOKS
ARTICLES
VIDEOS

Books

In 1993 a job change required that I leave my beloved home in Seattle. As a parting gift my mentor and employer, Brian Utting, gifted me a Mac Classic II and a charge: write a contraindications document for use in our school.

I took a year to do that, and when it was done I thought it might be possible that other massage schools might find such a thing—fully developed and referenced—useful. I eventually connected with Williams & Wilkins (later acquired by Lippincott), an academic publisher in Baltimore, and by 1995 I had a contract to start over and write what would become A Massage Therapist’s Guide to Pathology. It was the first book they published specifically for massage therapists.

The first edition was released in 1998, after some minor hiccups. If this is the edition you have, it is time for an update.

Pathology book front cover

Seventh Edition

The 7th edition is now available in hard copy and as an eBook through my new publisher, Books of Discovery.

Previous Editions


Articles

SubjectDate Published
Understanding GLP-1 RAsSpring 2025
Strokes in Broad StrokesSpring 2025
Too Much ToneNovember/December 2024
Chiari SyndromeSeptember/October 2024
Pathogen Modes of TransmissionJuly/August 2024
Medication Patches and Implications for Massage TherapyJuly/August 2024
Putting Us Through Our PAISMay/June 2024
No Bones About ItMarch/April 2024
Renal Failure, Dialysis, and Kidney TransplantsJanuary/February 2024
Deconstructing DiabetesNovember/December 2023
Parkinson's DiseaseSeptember/October 2023
Tinnitus and Massage TherapyJuly/August 2023
Arthrofibrosis - The Most Common Problem You've Never Heard OfMay/June 2023
Skin Cancer A Closer Look March/April 2023
Helping Clients With Complex Issues January/February 2023
Working with Invisible Pain November/December 2022
Multiple Sclerosis: A Viral Complication? September/October 2022
Long-term Lyme Disease: Controversies and Challenges July/August 2022
Trauma-Informed Care: Walking the Path of Client-Centered Connection and Collaboration May/June 2022
Boiling Over: The Frustrations of Hidradenitis Suppurativa March/April 2022
Unpacking the Long Haul: What You Need to Know About Massage Therapy and Long COVIDJanuary/February 2022
Sepsis - The Hidden CrisisNovember/December 2021
Oh What a Feeling!September/October 2021
Pharmacology Basics for Massage TherapistsJuly/August 2021
Acne rosacea2009
Adhesive capsulitis2003
Adverse effects2014
Adverse effects2020
Alzheimer’s disease (see dementing diseases)
Amputations2014
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis part 12005
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis part 22005
Anxiety disorders2016
Arthridites2012
Asthma (see atopy)
Atopy (eczema + asthma + seasonal allergies)2010
Autoimmune diseases and pregnancy2007
Bad advice for massage therapists2019
Back pain2011
Back pain2016
Bariatric surgery2009
Bell’s palsy2009
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo2010
Bipolar disorder2014
Body shaming2016
Botox2011
Cannabis-infused lotions2015
Celiac disease part 12006
Celiac disease part 22006
Central nervous system injuries, neuroplasticity2008
Central sensitization2013
Cerebral palsy2002
Cerebral palsy in adults2012
Childhood infections in adults2013
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)2019
Chronic pelvic pain in women2016
Communication with health care providers2008
Complex regional pain syndrome (see reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome)
Contact dermatitis2009
CREST syndrome2009
Crohn’s disease2015
Dementing diseases2017
Diabetes2017
Dislocations (see joint disruptions)
Eating disorders2009
Eczema (see atopy)
Ehlers Danlos syndrome2019
ELAPtitude2015
Endangerment sites2020
Exercise injuries2014
Female infertility2009
Frozen shoulder (see adhesive capsulitis)
Fungal infections (see mycoses)
General benefits of massage2019
Giant cell arteritis (see polymyalgia rheumatica)
Guillain-Barre syndrome2017
Headaches2013
Health history form2008
Hemotologic cancers (lymphoma, leukemia, myeloma)2011
Hepatitis ABCs2011
Hepatitis C2015
Herpes simplex2002
HIV pathophysiology2017
HIV/AIDS update2017
Hygiene (general)2012
Hygiene (hands and skin)2016
Hyperthyroidism2002
Hypothyroidism2002
Indications and contraindications for massage2018
Inflammation (Feb/March)2007
Joint disruptions2011
Joint replacement surgery2010
Leukemia (see hemotologic cancers)
Lou Gehrig’s disease (see amyotrophic lateral sclerosis)
Lyme disease2009
Lymphedema2013
Lymphoma (see hemotologic cancers)
Manic depression (see bipolar disease)
Medical implants2014
Metabolic syndrome2004
Mirror therapy2015
Morton’s neuroma2009
Motor neurone disease (see amyotrophic lateral sclerosis)
Methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus2008
Multiple sclerosis2002
Multiple sclerosis2013
Mycoses2019
Myeloma (see hemotologic cancers)
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease2010
Obesity Part 12018
Obesity Part 22018
Opioids2019
Orthorexia nervosa2015
Osteoporosis2006
Pain (see central sensitization)
Parkinson’s disease
Patent foramen ovale (M&B Oct/Nov ’07)
Peripheral artery disease
Peripheral neuropathy
Pertussis
Pharmacology
Piercings (see tattoos)
Poison ivy
Polycystic ovarian syndrome + metabolic syndrome
Polymyalgia rheumatica + giant cell arteritis
Post herpetic neuralgia (M&B 2006)
Post-polio syndrome
Postconcussion syndrome
Postural orthostatic tachycardic syndrome (POTS)
Prostate problems and estrogen dominance (M&B 2007)
Psoriasis
Raynaud’s disease
Reflex sympathetic dystrophy
Research vocabulary
Scar tissue
Sick and tired (low grade illness)
Sjogren’s syndrome
Skin cancer (M&B Dec/Jan 2006)
Sleep deprivation
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
Spinal cord injury (see central nervous system injury)
Spondylolisthesis (see back pain)
Squamous cell carcinoma
Statins
Superbugs
Tattoos
Temporomandibular joint disorders
Tick borne diseases
Tick-borne meat allergies
Topical medications
Trigeminal neuralgia
Warts
Whooping cough (see pertussis, childhood infections in adults)
Zika
Skipping a Beat: Cardiac Arrhythmias2020
Including People of Color in Pathology Images2020
Lipedema: The Skinny on Painful Fat2020/2021
Spinal Fusion Surgery: Common, Complicated, Controversial2021
Critical Thinking2021
Pulmonary Fibrosis2021
What the CDC’s New Mask Recommendations Mean for Massage Therapists 2021

Videos

TitleAppeared in Conjunction with Publication...
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Insulin ... | Massage & Bodywork magazine
Deconstructing Diabetes
Pathology Perspectives: Tinnitus | Massage & Bodywork magazineTinnitus and Massage Therapy
Pathology Perspectives: Arthrofibrosis | Massage & Bodywork magazine
Arthrofibrosis - The Most Common Problem You've Never Heard Of
Skin Cancer Signs and Symptoms with Ruth Werner | Massage & Bodywork magazine Skin Cancer A Closer Look
Why “Get a Doctor’s Note” Isn’t Good Enough, and What Is Better | Massage & Bodywork magazine
Helping Clients WIth Complex Conditions
Fibromyalgia: What Do We Know About Its Pathophysiology? | Massage & Bodywork magazine
Working with Invisible Pain
Multiple Sclerosis stories | Massage & Bodywork Magazine | ABMP
Multiple Sclerosis: A Viral Complication?
Trauma-Informed Care | Ruth Werner | Massage & Bodywork Magazine
Trauma-Informed Care: Walking the Path of Client-Centered Connection and Collaboration
Autoinflammatory Diseases | Ruth Werner | Massage & Bodywork Magazine
Boiling Over: The Frustrations of Hidradenitis Suppurativa
Talking With—and About—Long Haulers | Ruth Werner | Massage & Bodywork Magazine
Unpacking the Long Haul: What You Need to Know About Massage Therapy and Long COVID
Sepsis - The Hidden CrisisSepsis - The Hidden Crisis
Reading a Drug GuideSmall Pharmacology Basics for Massage Therapists
Fun with the Gut MicrobiomeSmall Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth
Fungal VocabularyMycoses Abounding
The Miracle of a Healthy Respiratory SystemWhen You Can't Catch Your Breath
Connective Issues: 13 Subtypes of EDSEhlers Danlos Syndrome
POTS: Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia SyndromeThe Lowdown on Lightheadedness
Endangerment Sites: A Conversation with Whitney Lowe"Low Risk" Does Not Equal "No Risk"
TMJ Disorders with Ruth WernerTemporomandibular Joint Disorders
Trigeminal NeuralgiaTic, Tic, Tic Douloureux
Post-COVID Screening QuestionsCOVID-19-Related Complications
Coagulopathy QuestionsCOVID-19-Related Coagulopathy
Heart Rate VariabilitySkipping a Beat: Cardiac Arrhythmias
Fast Fat FactsLipedema: The Skinny on Painful Fat
Spinal Fusion ControversiesSpinal Fusion Surgery: Common, Complicated, Controversial

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