Movement Science Foundations for Physical Therapy in Rehabilitation

From The Critics

Reviewer: William Werner, MA, PT (New York Institute of Technology )
Description: This is the second edition of a book intended to narrow the gap between rehabilitation and research in the movement sciences. The goal is achieved in such a manner that both students and experienced professionals alike can appreciate the importance of evidenced-based practice.
Purpose: The editors argue for the relevance of scientific findings and the application of them in the clinic.
Audience: The book is written for physical therapists. Students and experienced professionals alike will find this material interesting. Although the title indicates this book is for physical therapists, occupational therapists might enjoy it as well.
Features: Explaining the benefits of using research as a guide to clinical practice results in a book that is an important and unique contribution to a physical therapist's library. Furthermore, by providing a model for implementing this approach in the form of examples, contributors invite the clinician to evaluate current practice. The chapters are written by experts in rehabilitation and movement science and complement each other well. The organization and clear presentation of the book may be due in part to the fact that the contributors all teach on the college level. Historical and current models of treatment are covered and contributors argue for and against different theoretical perspectives of rehabilitation. Relevant experiments are presented with interpretation and application to the clinic. This edition has been updated to include the most recent experiments. Despite the complexity of the research presented, the reader is walked through the process of critically evaluating and applying the research to a patient.
Assessment: This book fills a void in current physical therapy libraries. The authors do an outstanding job of juxtaposing research and practice. As opposed to treating a patient based solely on theoretical models, evidence-based practice provides a foundation of scientifically proven effectiveness for treatment. The contributing authors prompt the reader to evaluate the current models of treatment and explore if there are treatments available that are more effective and have been supported by experimentation.

3 Stars from Doody