Clinical Tests for the Musculoskeletal System: Examination--Signs--Phenomena.

Clinical Tests for the Musculoskeletal System: Examination--Signs--Phenomena Buckup K. New York, NY 10001, Thieme, 2005, paperback, 272 pp, illus, ISBN: 1-58890-241-2, $44.95.

This convenient, pocket-sized book presents a comprehensive collection of the clinical tests that are used in orthopedic diagnosis. The book begins with a chapter on examinations for the spine, which is then followed by separate chapters covering examinations for the shoulder; the elbow; the wrist, hand, and fingers; the hip; the knee; the foot; posture deficiency; venous thrombosis; and occlusive arterial disease.

Each joint test is described step by step. Illustrations show the initial position and actual procedure quite clearly, and evaluation of the test results is discussed after the description of the test procedure. The author also uses multiple tests for the same joint, which could provide a more accurate diagnosis.

The book uses more than 500 illustrations to depict the actual steps of the tests. There is a noticeable difference among the illustrations in terms of quality, however, which may be due to the fact that 3 illustrators worked on this book. Fortunately, the poorer illustrations are interspersed with the better drawings, so no one chapter is diminished. The less effective illustrations had either faces or body parts that looked abnormal or out of proportion to the patient or physical therapist. This tended to distract me from the actual purpose of the illustrations. I would recommend that these illustrations be redone in future editions.

The spine, shoulder, and knee chapters provide the largest number of tests. For example, the knee chapter includes tests for muscle traction, patella, meniscus, and knee ligament stability. For the anterior cruciate ligament alone, the chapter discusses 20 functional tests. The book also covers 9 tests for the posterior cruciate ligament.

This pocket-sized book would make a practical reference for the clinician who has patients with orthopedic conditions because a brief overview of the joint is given at the start of every section. Range of motion and other anatomical information also are provided. For each joint, functional tests, stress tests, and stability tests are shown.

The author has done a great job in compiling a concise and practical book that is devoted to tests that have been proven to give reliable measurements. This book provides more information about validity then reliability, however. I would highly recommend this book to physical therapists, orthopedic surgeons, and primary care and emergency room physicians. With some improvements on several of the drawings, the book would become an even more useful resource.

Dan Bankson, PT

Fairmont Medical Center

Fairmont, Minn

Bankson is Senior Therapist at Fairmont Medical Center, which is affiliated with Mayo Health Systems. He works with patients who have orthopedic and neurological conditions.