Manual for Physical Agents, 6th edition

For courses such as thermotherapy, hydrotherapy, electrotherapy, physical agents, or modalities, as part of education programs for physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, athletic trainers, clinics, and hospital physical therapy departments. 

MANUAL FOR PHYSICAL AGENTS, 6/e is a core education resource for modern physical therapists, therapist assistants, and athletic trainers. It integrates concise summaries of the theoretical background and available evidence for each technique; step-by-step instructions presented generically, without brand names; and broad coverage of most current techniques. Designed for easy use, its lay-flat spiral binding remains open while students practice independently in laboratory sessions; concise tables provide fast access to essential information. This edition offers stronger focus on evidence-based practice; a new chapter on evaluating new interventions; new study and discussion questions; and extensive new topic coverage: from controlled cold compression to electrical stimulation for tissue repair.

Hallmark Features

Evidence-based summaries of the theoretical background of each agent–citing relevant studies

• Helps students clearly understand the theory and evidence behind each technique they are learning

Step-by-step instructions–for each technique and procedure

• Enables students to perform each technique without demonstration
• Allows faculty members to spend more class time helping students develop their decision-making skills 

Generic instructions or figures–focusing on the important aspects of applying each agent, without appearing to endorse any brand of equipment

• Designed to work equally well no matter what equipment you and your students are using 

Convenient spiral comb binding–allowing the book to lie flat during labs

• Enables students to use the book more conveniently 

Easy to access tables–presenting indications, contraindications, precautions, advantages, and disadvantages

• Provides simpler, faster access to the information students need most

Excludes techniques that are obsolete–or not backed by evidence

• Helps students focus on the techniques with the greatest scientific support

• Develops students’ evidence-based decision making skills
• Helps students prepare to succeed in today’s increasingly evidence-driven healthcare system 

• More closely reflects widespread current practice 

• Guides students in utilizing and evaluating modern techniques 

New! Study questions–presented at the end of each chapter

• Helps students check and confirm their knowledge

New! Discussion questions at the end of each major section–with answers provided in an appendix

• Gives students new opportunities to explore the material and apply critical thinking to it

New! Complete chapter on evaluating new or nonstandard interventions in physical therapy–helping practitioners bring analytical rigor to proposed new interventions

• Helps students objectively assess new interventions
• Helps students avoid falling victim to misleading claims or new equipment and techniques that are unsupported by evidence