Principles and Practice of Electrotherapy, 3d ed.

I have had the pleasure of reviewing the previous editions of this book for Physical Therapy, and so it was interesting to me to view changes in this new edition. In essence, this edition is very similar to the other editions of the book, but with, perhaps, more personal commentary from Dr Kahn, based on his extensive experience with electrotherapy. The purpose of this edition, like the previous ones, is to provide students and clincians with a "clinical companion" to electrotherapy modalities, and to that end the author has once again succeeded.

The majority of the book is very similar to previous editions. This edition still covers diathermies, infrared, ultraviolet, cold laser, ultrasound and phonophoresis, electrical stimulation, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, iontophoresis, and strength-duration testing. In addition, Kahn has retained his discussion of treatment planning, offering some interesting treatment approaches to various clinical conditions using electrotherapy modalities. New to this edition is a short commentary on recent developments in electrotherapy along with some interesting comments on thrid-party reimbursement for electrotherapy modalities. Also added are two short appendixes on equipment selection and "questions most often asked."

As in previous editions, the author retains the same format for each chapter. He leads with a discussion of the relevant physics, followed by coverage of the indications, treatment procedures, and recommended techniques for specific conditions. It is the treatment procedures and techniques that set this book apart from others on this topic. Kahn relies on his extensive experience to provide the clinician with numerous, often novel, treatment approaches. I am sure some of these treatment procedures will be considered controversial by many clinicians; however, he certainly provides some food for thought in his approaches. The book is filled with excellent photographs of typical patient setups providing hands-on usage for students and clinicians who only may use these modalities on an infrequent basis. As in previous editions, the book has one of the best analyses of iontophoresis and its clinical application.

Overall, the real strength of this book lies in the treatment procedures and practical application of the electrotherapy modalities. Although there are several books that deal with the subject of electrotherapy, there are none that I am aware of that are as practically orientated. Although this book would be useful to physical therapy student, it may not have enough theoretical depth to serve as the only textbook in an introductory course. It may, however, be useful as a text in a physical therapist assistant curriculum. Physical therapy clinicians may find this to be a good reference text because of the numerous clinical applications and photographs. If you already own the second edition of this book, you may not find enough additional information in this edition to warrant its purchase. In summary, it is an excellent book written by an author with many years of practical experience, who is able to effectively convey his experience and opinions to the reader.

Thomas M Mohr, PhD, PT Univ of North Dakota Grand Forks, ND