Experiments and Demonstrations in Physical Therapy An Inquiry Approach to Learning

This practical, hands-on manual is designed to help aspiring physical therapists advance from "technical problem solvers" to "reflective practitioners." It is also written to encourage professional therapists to continue their education and advance their profession through research. Its broader goal is to incorporate scientific inquiry into factual learning and to support the scientific basis for physical therapy procedures and facilitate research. Consisting of twelve exercises that incorporate research principles, modality application, and therapeutic exercise concepts, this manual is designed to put the therapist in the role of the investigator, requiring the development of hypotheses and investigations to answer questions and test those hypotheses. The book presents exercises which utilize experimental and statistical techniques to understand physical therapy modalities and principles of exercise. Experiments are designed to record and analyze the effect of several physical therapy treatments, such as the application of therapeutic heat. By conducting these experiments, therapists will measure physiological responses and draw conclusions about the procedures they apply. An important resources for all practicing professional physical therapists.