Clinical Kinesiology for Physical Therapy Assistants, 2d ed.

As the author states in the preface to her new book, physical therapy assistant (PTA) educators are frustrated by the lack of adequate textbook material available for the PTA student. This textbook attempts to fill this void, placing emphasis on basic kinesiology. Muscle actions are described, using terminology most widely accepted in the physical therapy field. Because the information is basic, the author encourages consultation of other texts for more in-depth analysis.

The book can be divided into three basic sections: introduction (chapter 1) and body systems (skeletal, articular, muscle, and nervous), specific anatomical joint and/or locations, and specialized processes of respiration (chapter 15) and normal gait (chapter 16). Chapter 1 gives a very cursory introduction into the terminology used in the book along with descriptions of motion and movement. Chapters 2 through 5 cover the body system in very brief detail. For example, no mention of accessory motion is made in the chapter covering the articular system. The illustrations, however, are helpful in displaying anatomical information. Occasionally, pathological conditions are provided as examples to system function and dysfunction.

The chapters covering specific joints or areas are arranged similarly. Each chapter contains sections on joint structure, joint motions, bones and landmarks, ligaments and other structures, muscles (with summaries of muscle action and innervation), and review questions. The muscles are adequately described, with origin, insertion, action, and nerve information emphasized in separate lists. The review questions concentrate on information recall and not on problem-solving situations.

In summary, the author identifies the problem of a lack of PTA textbook, and this book achieves her objective of filling that void. The level of detail, however, is considerably less than that found in other general kinesiology textbooks. Although the layout and illustrations make the text easy to read, more practical examples explaining muscle functions would be helpful. As a PTA educator, I feel the more motivated or advanced students would benefit from more in-depth material.