Basic Neurosciences for the Health Professions.

Basic Neurosciences for the Health Professions This text is designed to provide a framework for understanding the structure and function of the nervous system, with emphasis on the application of neuroscience to the practice of physical therapy. The author's intent is to provide entry-level physical therapists with a neuroscience background that will help them effectively use current treatment appproaches to the management of patients with severe neurological problems. Concepts of structure and function are emphasized. The author intentionally makes no attempt to cite the extensive neuroscience literature; thus, the text is not oriented to the needs of the practitioner who is interested in the study of historical or current neuroscience research.

The text abounds with illustrations that are largely diagrammatic in nature; well-drawn and clearly labeled, they add a great deal to the comprehensibility of the text. The book contains 20 chapters that cover all anatomical divisions of the nervous system in addition to such topics as homeostatic regulation, information transfer (largely physiological topics), and central nervous system fluids and metablolism. At the end of each chapter is a series of review exercises for the reader. Many of the questions involve patients described in the appendix--patients with problems (ie, peripheral nerve injury, cerebrovascular accident, closed head injury, spinal cord injury) typical among the patient population treated by physical therapists. A list of suggested readings at the end of the text includes atlases, specialized texts in the neurosciences, and comprehensive neuroscience texts.

For those physical therapy education programs in which the neurosciences are taught by a physical therapist, this text should be particularly appealing to both instructor and student. In general medical school courses in the neurosciences, the book probably would not suffice as a primary text, but could be useful as supplementary reading for physical therapy students enrolled in the course. The latter students frequently fail to appreciate the application of nueroscience to the practice of physical therapy, and this text's focus on that application is particularly noteworthy.

In addition to being of value to physical therapy students, this text would be of value to practicing therapists involved in the care of patients who have neurological disorders. The book is pleasing to read and covers topics clearly and accurately. Because of the quality of the text, I was especially surprised and sorry to see that the professional affiliation of the author was not included in the volume. I hope this oversight will be corrected in the future.