Handbook of Pediatric Physical Therapy

"...topics include a review of growth and development, assessment considerations and treatment protocols, administrative issues such as documentation, legislative and regulatory issues, and professional decision making."

This updated quick reference provides a contemporary perspective on pediatric physical therapy for both students and professionals. Following the "Guide to Physical Therapist Practice," this invaluable tool addresses growth and development, pediatric disorders, measurements, interventions, assistive technologies, and administrative issues—all in a rapid access format for daily consultation. For easier use, this edition features a larger trim size, with new boxes, figures, charts, and conditions. Separate chapters cover Intervention, Measurement & Disorders, and Assistive Technology. Expanded coverage of growth and development includes outcomes that occur when development is disrupted. Insurance coding information is also included.

Doody Review Services

Reviewer:Cynthia Potter, PT, DPT, PCS(Healthquest Community Service)
Description:This handbook, a resource for physical therapists providing services for children, is presented in an outline format with numerous charts and tables useful for quick access to information. The previous edition was published in 1997.
Purpose:The purpose is to provide essential information regarding pediatric physical therapy to answer clinical questions in the areas of intervention, service delivery, or particular conditions. The book is a needed resource that allows access to critical clinical information. As a ready reference, the book is a helpful to therapists who may not typically see a great number of pediatric patients, but must serve these patients as a result of changes in the healthcare environment. It is also a good resource for novice clinicians or experienced physical therapists who are now acquiring an expertise in pediatrics and experienced pediatric physical therapists who must provide service to a child with a particular condition with which they are unfamiliar. The format of the book suits its purpose by organizing information in an outline format with large headings and referring to the many tables and charts included for more details on a particular subject and meets the authors' goal of limiting the need to read large amounts of text.
Audience:According to the authors, the book is for therapists who must initiate intervention with pediatric patients and who have limited time for researching areas in which they do not have broad expertise. The book is appropriately geared toward that audience.
Features:The book is organized into six chapters and includes more tables, line drawings and pictures than the previous edition. The increased use of color for the outlines and tables makes it easier to locate information. The book is consistent with the language used in the APTA's Guide to Physical Therapist Practice (American Physical Therapy Association, 2001). Although tables, charts, and figures are useful in presenting information in an organized, accessible way, it is sometimes confusing when they are interspersed with text that does not correspond. There is an expanded chapter on growth and development that includes development of gait. Included in this chapter is an excellent description of atypical locomotor behavior and variations in joint development that are clinically relevant. Tables summarizing motor, cognitive, and language provide a good reference for therapists who may not be as familiar with all areas of child development, but there is minimal information regarding fine motor and social/emotional sequential development. The chapter on pediatric conditions provides relevant clinical information on general and specific conditions seen by pediatric physical therapists. Generally lacking in this chapter, as well as the chapter on interventions, is information regarding musculoskeletal conditions seen in pediatric athletes at various ages. One of the strengths of this book is the chapter on measurement. A large number of tests categorized by age are presented along with detailed descriptions of individual tests and ordering information. The section at the end of this chapter describing clinical observations has variable amounts of information and some categories do not include enough information to be useful to readers who are not very familiar with the material. For example, a list of clinical observations under "Vestibular Function and Equilibrium" lists items such as postrotary nystagmus test, prone extension, and floor ataxia test could be accompanied by descriptions to be more useful to clinicians. Similarly, the section on "Oral-motor and Feeding" lists areas such as "Facial and Intraoral Anatomy" and "Endurance" without any further guiding information or description of what observations should be made related to clinical issues. The expanded chapter on assistive technology is well organized and includes a large number of pictures. A chapter on administrative issues gives a well-rounded historical, philosophical, and legislative description of serving individuals with disabilities. A large listing of organizations, including their websites, is included in the resource section of the book. The bibliography includes a number of comprehensive physical therapy books for those seeking more detailed information. Most of the bibliography listings are from later than 1990.
Assessment:The reorganization and expanded information included in this updated edition increase make this a valuable addition to the library of any physical therapist that provides services to children. It succeeds in being a ready clinical reference with broad information.

Long, Toby M., PhD, PT; Toscano, Kathleen, MHS, PT, PCS