Musculoskeletal Essentials: Applying the Preferred Physical Therapist Practice Patterns [SM].

Musculoskeletal Essentials: Applying the Preferred Physical Therapist Practice Patterns (SM) Moffat M, ed; Rosen E, Rusnak-Smith S, associate eds. Thorofare, NJ 08086, Slack Inc, 2006, paperback, 448 pp, illus, ISBN: 1-55642-667-4, $58.95.

The purpose of this book is to serve as a reference for physical therapists, students, and practitioners on how to apply the Guide to Physical Therapist Practice (the Guide) to musculoskeletal conditions. This book, 1 in a series of 4 books, is aimed at advancing the physical therapist's understanding and application of the Guide to clinical practice. The target audience is primarily physical therapists, but the book also may be useful for support staff (eg, physical therapist assistants).

The book has 10 chapters specific to the musculoskeletal practice domain. The chapters are well written and follow a uniform pattern as outlined in the Guide. Each chapter includes an overview of anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, imaging, and pharmacology, followed by 3 to 5 clinical cases. The information on anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, imaging, and pharmacology is limited and directed toward specific case studies (eg, postural dysfunction, pronated feet, and Scheuermann disease in chapter 2, "Impaired Posture: Pattern B").

Each case study provides details on the processes for examination, evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis and plan of care, interventions, reexamination, and discharge. The physical therapist examination section includes an extensive coverage of history and systems review, along with tests and measures. The diagnosis section utilizes disablement model terminology and the rationale for placement of the patient within the chosen pattern. Listings of anticipated outcomes, interventions, the range of expected visits, and time course for rehabilitation services are included under the prognosis and plan of care section.

Each intervention section begins with a brief discussion of the rationale for selected treatment techniques, followed by a detailed outline of the treatment program. The outline of the treatment program is broken down into various categories specific to each chapter (eg, therapeutic exercise, self-care, functional training, manual therapy techniques, and modalities for the anterior cruciate ligament repair case in chapter 9, "Impaired Joint Mobility, Motor Function, and Range of Motion Associated With Bony or Soft Tissue Surgery [Pattern I]") and ends with anticipated goals and expected outcomes. The anticipated goals and expected outcomes section is comprehensive, but some cases lack time frames for goal attainment. The reexamination and discharge sections for each case are uniform, brief, and provide minimal information aside from the total number of physical therapy sessions.

Tables and figures are effectively used to supplement information in the text. Radiograph images, used sparingly in the text, lack visual clarity. References, included in each chapter, provide evidence-based support for many of the examination and treatment methods.

The editors and contributors have developed a unique text that provides comprehensive clinical case examples in the application of the Guide. This text will be a useful resource for physical therapist clinicians, educators, and students seeking understanding of how to thoroughly apply the Guide to clinical practice.

M Rosenthal, PT, DSc, SCS, ECS, ATC, is the director of physical therapy at the Naval Special Warfare Center, San Diego, Calif.

[DOI: 10.2522/ptj.2007.87.7.955.2]