This book brings the Feldenkrais Method(R) and the concept of Somatic Education to a wide audience. As well as providing an introduction to the Feldenkrais Method(R) and its applications, a team of highly qualified contributors, representing a variety of therapeutic professions, explore how the Feldenkrais Method(R) interacts with and supports other professions and modalities, including Pilates, yoga, dance, physical therapy, sports coaching, rehabilitation medicine, and more. (See the table of contents for full details.) Moshe Feldenkrais (1904-1984), the founder of the Feldenkrais Method(R), built his Method around the concept of improving human functioning by increasing self-awareness through movement. The concept of neuroplasticity - the brain's amazing capacity to change and adapt - was one of Feldenkrais' basic tenets of how the brain organizes movement, and is now in our daily lexicon. Pain, illness and injuries all affect how our nervous system and brain react to events in us and around us. Feldenkrais' thesis is that our nervous system always does the best it can with the information it has, and learning through the nervous system is the theme that runs through this book. Coverage includes: Comparisons about similarities as well as differences between the different modalities. Theory and practice of how the Feldenkrais Method(R) can be applied in a variety of specific settings. Coverage of the research base that supports evidence-informed practices for clients Online video of theory and practice accessed by QR codes throughout the book

A timely and essential book for physical therapist and physical therapist assistant students, faculty, and practitioners, as well as clinical educators, Learning to Lead in Physical Therapy provides information on identifying, developing, and demonstrating effective leadership skills for daily practice. Drs. Jennifer Green-Wilson and Stacey Zeigler explain that in a health care field that's constantly evolving, leadership skill development must be a high priority in physical therapy education and practice. Leadership skills are critical for physical therapists and physical therapist assistants throughout the course of their careers-in an informal leadership role with patients, in collaboration and advocacy for interdisciplinary care, and in formal leadership positions as they continually adapt to new expectations. With an evidence-based framework, the authors incorporate a workbook-style text with written prompts, activities, tools, quotes, and personal vignettes from practicing clinicians to explore concepts including: Discovering your individual strengths, developing your leadership style, and learning to lead through mentorship and coaching Communicating effectively, incorporating teamwork and collaboration, becoming an inclusive leader, and leading through conflict Effecting change through leadership, ethical decision-making, and serving others This book is easily incorporated within a single course or across multiple courses throughout a curriculum. Academic and clinical faculty and practitioners will also find this book easy to use for personal growth with its activity-based guidance through each chapter. Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants have the unique opportunity to be leaders at all levels-in their practices, the health care system, and their communities at large. Learning to Lead in Physical Therapy is an essential text in preparing students, faculty, and practitioners of all levels for these crucial leadership roles and responsibilities.

Incorporating a patient-focused perspective on communication and health care, this new title for physical and occupational therapists and students provides practical strategies for effective communication with both colleagues and patients. Written in a straightforward, easy-to-understand style, it offers a multidisciplinary, evidence-based approach and an emphasis on reflective practice, making it a timely and useful resource for today's readers. Discusses strategies for communicating with both colleagues and patients Examines the evidence for the importance of effective communication in enhancing clinical effectiveness Contains reflective exercises for self-awareness of personal communication skills and difficulties Provides case studies that allow the reader to analyze a range of realistic communication problems Includes research-based evidence throughout

Physical therapists know that their patients are more than just a list of symptoms. They are people first, often with a complex mix of medical and psychiatric circumstances, who may receive a wide range of care from a team of professionals. Keeping this in mind, Psychosocial Elements of Physical Therapy: The Connection of Body to Mind is both a textbook and a clinical resource for physical therapist students and clinicians practicing in any patient population with psychological concerns or disorders. Inside, Dr. Hannah Johnson provides an essential introduction of psychosocial concepts, general treatment approaches for culturally sensitive care, and selected classes of mental illness as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5). A complete review of the current research and evidence base provides students a strong foundation to build their careers on, but can also act as a crash-course in the most recent literature for the busy clinician. Features: Clear, concise language and layout for efficient learning Application-based review questions Real world case studies to apply critical thinking skills Evidence-based practical tests and measures Vocabulary terms that facilitate interdisciplinary teamwork Psychosocial Elements of Physical Therapy: The Connection of Body to Mind provides physical therapist students and clinicians with an efficient yet comprehensive guide to helping patients with psychological concerns or disorders.

Sarah Klamroth describes a novel treadmill training device, which applies additional perturbations to the walking surface and thereby simulating an uneven surface. In a pilot study the author investigated the immediate effects on gait and postural control in patients with Parkinson's Disease after a single training session of perturbation treadmill training. The results show that perturbation treadmill training is feasible for mildly to moderately affected Parkinson patients, and that one training session led to improvements in overground walking speed and gait variability in these patients.

Current evidence supports the use of resistance training as an independent method to prevent, treat, and potentially reverse the impact of numerous chronic diseases. With physical inactivity one of the top risk factors for global mortality, a variety of worldwide initiatives have been launched, and resistance training is promoted by numerous organizations including the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Despite this, most books do not provide a detailed focus on resistance training. An up-to-date and comprehensive resource, Resistance Training for the Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Disease is an evidence-based guide that presents an in-depth analysis of the independent and positive effects that can result from resistance training. Written by some of the world's leading exercise physiologists and resistance training researchers and experts, the chapters provide detailed descriptions of the benefits of resistance training for specific clinical populations. They also include guidelines on how to construct a tailored resistance training prescription for each population when appropriate. The book covers resistance training for effective prevention or treatment of numerous diseases including cardiovascular disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, renal failure, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, fibromyalgia, stroke, depression and anxiety, pulmonary disease, HIV/AIDS, and orthopedic disease. The authors also address resistance training for older adults and for children and adolescents.

Extensively illustrated and evidence based, Movement System Impairment Syndromes of the Extremities, Cervical and Thoracic Spines helps you effectively diagnose and manage musculoskeletal pain. It discusses diagnostic categories and their associated muscle and movement imbalances, and makes recommendations for treatment. Also covered is the examination itself, plus exercise principles, specific corrective exercises, and the modification of functional activities. Case studies provide examples of clinical reasoning, and a companion Evolve website includes video clips of tests and procedures. Written and edited by the leading experts on muscle and movement, Shirley Sahrmann and associates, this book is a companion to the popular Diagnosis and Treatment of Movement Impairment Syndromes. An organized and structured method helps you make sound decisions in analyzing the mechanical cause of movement impairment syndromes, determining the contributing factors, and planning a strategy for management. Detailed, yet clear explanations of examination, exercise principles, specific corrective exercises, and modification of functional activities for case management provide the tools you need to identify movement imbalances, establish the relevant diagnosis, and develop the corrective exercise prescription. Case studies illustrate the clinical reasoning used in managing musculoskeletal pain. Evidence-based research supports the procedures covered in the text. Over 360 full-color illustrations -- plus tables and summary boxes -- highlight essential concepts and procedures. A companion Evolve website includes video clips demonstrating the tests and procedures and printable grids from the book.

This manual provides laboratory-based learning experiences in perceptually and psychosocially linked exercise assessment, prescription, and programming. The primary pedagogic outcome is the ability to use applied theory and practice in perceptual and psychosocial exercise assessment and program design to promote the adoption and maintenance of a physically active lifestyle, enhancing overall health fitness. Perceptual and psychosocial variables are presented in individual, stand-alone laboratory modules that can supplement existing curricula such as exercise and sport psychology, exercise physiology, exercise testing and prescription, and exercise training and conditioning. In addition, the complete modular set has a conceptual flow that allows its presentation as an entire, laboratory-based course. The laboratory modules are divided into three primary units: assessment (theoretical constructs, scales and procedures, tests), prescription (self-regulation, performance), and program evaluation. The manual uses a unique format in which case studies are embedded in the conceptual flow of each lab module facilitating translation of laboratory results to real-world application. The manual concludes with a discussion of perceptually and psychosocially linked exercise prescription and programming applications in public health, such as program monitoring and adherence.

Trauma is a serious public health problem worldwide and is the leading cause of death among adults and children. Physiotherapists play a key role in the interdisciplinary team caring for patients with physical injury after a traumatic event. Cardiopulmonary Physiotherapy in Trauma offers valuable insight into the advanced trauma life support and acute care management of patients with trauma-related injuries, as well as physiotherapy treatment aims, intervention strategies and precautions to treatment.A variety of topics related to trauma are brought together in this practical volume, which shares information obtained from published research as well as the extensive clinical expertise of the authors. The dissemination of the authors' personal experience is key in cases where evidence to support the use of certain treatment techniques in patients with traumatic injury is still lacking. The book is thus an essential reference that encourages evidence-based practice for advanced undergraduate students, as well as graduate physiotherapists who work with trauma patients in the acute care setting.

While virtual reality (VR) has influenced fields as varied as gaming, archaeology and the visual arts, some of its most promising applications come from the health sector. Particularly encouraging are the many uses of VR in supporting the recovery of motor skills following accident or illness. Virtual Reality for Physical and Motor Rehabilitation reviews two decades of progress and anticipates advances to come. It offers current research on the capacity of VR to evaluate, address, and reduce motor skill limitations and the use of VR to support motor and sensorimotor function, from the most basic to the most sophisticated skill levels. Expert scientists and clinicians explain how the brain organizes motor behavior, relate therapeutic objectives to client goals and differentiate among VR platforms in engaging the production of movement and balance. On the practical side, contributors demonstrate that VR complements existing therapies across various conditions such as neurodegenerative diseases, traumatic brain injury and stroke. Included among the topics: Neuroplasticity and virtual reality. Vision and perception in virtual reality. Sensorimotor recalibration in virtual environments. Rehabilitative applications using VR for residual impairments following stroke. VR reveals mechanisms of balance and locomotor impairments. Applications of VR technologies for childhood disabilities. A resource of great immediate and future utility, Virtual Reality for Physical and Motor Rehabilitation distills a dynamic field to aid the work of neuropsychologists, rehabilitation specialists (including physical, speech, vocational and occupational therapists), and neurologists.

Accurate assessment of hand function is critical to any treatment regimen of the hand compromised patient. Hand Function is a practical, clinical book which provides the knowledge needed to distinguish the different dimensions of hand function, particularly impairment, disability and handicap. Beginning with an overview of basic principles and examination, subsequent chapters evaluate the hand function in specific afflicted populations, including the rheumatoid patient, the stroke patient, the trauma patient, the geriatric patient and the pediatric patient, as well as special populations such as diabetes mellitus patients and musicians. An appendix containing hand function scales essential to the assessment of disability is also included. Rheumatologists, physiatrists, hand surgeons, orthopedists, occupational therapists and physical therapists will all find Hand Function a useful and valuable addition to their clinical references.

This ground-breaking book brings together researchers from a wide range of disciplines to discuss the control and coordination of processes involved in perceptually guided actions. The research area of motor control has become an increasingly multidisciplinary undertaking. Understanding the acquisition and performance of voluntary movements in biological and artificial systems requires the integration of knowledge from a variety of disciplines from neurophysiology to biomechanics.

Comprised exclusively of clinical cases covering scaphoid fractures and nonunions, this concise, practical casebook will provide clinicians in orthopedic, plastic and hand surgery with the best real-world strategies to properly diagnose and treat the various forms of the condition they may encounter. After a brief introduction covering scaphoid anatomy, each chapter is in the form of a case that opens with a unique clinical presentation, followed by a description of the diagnosis, assessment and management techniques used to treat it, as well as the case outcome and clinical pearls and pitfalls. Cases included illustrate different injuries and management strategies from acute scaphoid fractures and nonunions to advanced collapse, covering non-operative and arthroscopic techniques as well as autograft procedures and salvage options. Pragmatic and reader-friendly, Scaphoid Fractures and Nonunions: A Clinical Casebook will be an excellent resource for seasoned as well as those training to be orthopedic surgeons, plastic surgeons, hand surgeons and emergency medicine physicians alike.

Publisher's Note: Products purchased from Third Party sellers are not guaranteed by the publisher for quality, authenticity, or access to any online entitlements included with the product. A comprehensive intro to the art,science, and practice of physical therapy With Dutton's Introduction to Physical Therapy and Patient Skills, Second Edition, you get complete and well-rounded coverage of the practice of physical therapy (PT). This comprehensive introduction provides the conceptual framework you need to build a solid foundation in PT-including a historical perspective of the profession, an introduction to healthcare policy, and in-depth coverage of evidence-informed practice. The book describes how movement evolves, how it becomes skilled, and how dysfunction can occur; illustrates the necessary skills you need to successfully practice PT; explains how to development areas of expertise, including how to enhance a patient's function in such tasks as bed mobility, transfers, and gait training; and much more. The author emphasizes both patient and clinician safety through the use of correct body mechanics, application of assistive and safety devices, and infection control procedures.

When all you need is a basic understanding of joint mobilization techniques, supplemented by succinct and demonstrative examples, look to Cram Session in Joint Mobilization Techniques: A Handbook for Students & Clinicians for quick, at-your-fingertips facts. Cram Session in Joint Mobilization Techniques by Dr. David C. Berry and Leisha M. Berry is a descriptive quick reference that provides the rehabilitation professional with a detailed yet easy-to-digest approach to joint mobilization techniques. Organized into quick-reference tables and concise descriptions of each technique, this resource offers an efficient way to learn the cognitive and psychomotor skills necessary to competently perform joint mobilization techniques. What is in your Cram Session: Easy-reference tables of joint complex osteology and arthrology Photographs depicting mobilization techniques for each joint Case studies in mobilization Quiz questions to test your knowledge Instructors in educational settings can visit www.efacultylounge.com for additional materials to be used for teaching in the classroom. Cram Session in Joint Mobilization Techniques: A Handbook for Students & Clinicians is an informative, well-organized handbook for all students and clinicians in athletic training, physical therapy, occupational therapy, osteopathic medicine, and other rehabilitation professions.

This book addresses the complexity of preventing, diagnosing, and treating musculoskeletal pain and disability disorders in the workplace. Divided evenly between common occupational pain disorders, conceptual and methodological issues, and evidence-based intervention methods, this comprehensive reference presents current findings on prevalence, causation, and physical and psychological aspects common to these disorders. Attention is given to working-world concerns, including insurance and compensation issues and AMA guidelines for disability evaluations. Also, specialized chapters offer lenses for understanding and administering the best approaches for treating specific pain disorders, and explore what workplaces can do to accommodate affected employees and prevent injuries from occurring in the first place.

The massive growth in the popularity of yoga as a form of exercise and as a method of maintaining whole-body wellness has led to thousands of published research studies confirming what yoga practitioners already know: Yoga relieves stress, improves mental and emotional health, enhances sleep, relieves low back pain and neck pain, promotes weight loss, and even enables smoking cessation. Further study has proven that yoga helps individuals with disabilities improve their functional activities of daily living, recover from injuries, gain mobility, experience less pain, and manage anxiety and depressive symptoms. Adaptive Yoga takes these studies out of the research labs and onto the yoga mat to empower individuals with disabilities or chronic health conditions to create an effective and safe yoga practice. If you work with these special populations as a yoga teacher or rehabilitative therapist, you will find guidance and recommended poses for some of the most common conditions and disabilities, including these: Low back pain Hip, knee, and rheumatoid arthritis Spinal cord injury Stroke Cerebral palsy Lower limb amputation Parkinson's disease Multiple sclerosis Each pose is presented in detail so you fully understand how it helps the student improve functionality. The text instructs the reader on how to enter, hold, and exit the pose safely, as well as why the pose is beneficial for that condition. When appropriate, contraindications are presented so the yoga practice can be tailored to address any additional conditions or limitations. Challenge variations and restorative modifications for many poses make further individualization possible. In Adaptive Yoga, authors Ingrid Yang, MD, and Kyle Fahey, DPT, have combined their extensive backgrounds in yoga, medicine, and physical therapy with their unique insights and passion for movement and rehabilitation to present an essential guide for helping those with chronic conditions experience the countless physical and mental benefits of yoga practice. CE exam available! For certified professionals, a companion continuing education exam can be completed after reading this book. The Adaptive Yoga Online CE Exam may be purchased separately or as part of the Adaptive Yoga With CE Exam package that includes both the book and the exam.

The new age of biologic treatment of the ACL is coming. In The ACL Handbook: Knee Biology, Mechanics, and Treatment, the authors cover the past and current state of ACL injuries and treatment, and then introduce and explain the key concepts for understanding the new biologic approach to ACL treatment. The use of factors to enhance graft healing are reviewed, as well as an in-depth review of the science of platelet-rich plasma and its cellular components (platelets, white cells, and plasma). Chapters on in vitro models for science as well as the advantages and disadvantages of animal models for ACL research are included, as are chapters on the new technique of bio-enhanced ACL repair. All are discussed in easily readable text aimed at anyone with an interest of what is coming next in ACL surgery.

Foreword from a Clinical Biomechanist, Applied Physiologist and Prosthetist teaching graduate students in Prosthetics & Orthotics. While there are many books on Biomechanics, arguably the quintessential science of limb prosthetics, none addresses the fundamental principles in sufficient detail and depth to be practically useful to the prosthetist, rehabilitation specialist or researcher. Dr. Pitkin's monograph is an exemplary collection of theoretical principles from his research and o- ers, presented in its clinical and applied biomechanics form. The textbook provides an excellent overview of the many facets of lower limb prosthetic design and engineering for the ardent clinician researcher and student. The book delves into many of the basic concepts that are required knowledge for the clinician and the scientist to have as the foundation for their work. Dr. Pitkin has an e- quent manner in which he reflects on the history and literature to tell the storied evolution of prosthetic design . He takes the reader on a journey to consider his theories, which have substantive foundations to contemplate. By the end of chapter one, we have the basic h- tory and an appreciation for the rationale behind the "rolling joint ankle" with evidence to support his theoretical views.

With an increasing number of referrals to treat balance impairment, gait disorders, and dizziness, A Clinician's Guide to Balance and Dizziness: Evaluation and Treatment by Dr. Charles M. Plishka looks to address these issues and provides tests, measures, and interventions that are matched to research studies when available, for evidence-based practice. It begins with a review of the anatomy and physiology of the systems used to balance. With a basic understanding of how we balance, the signs and symptoms of patients will be understood with much greater ease. A Clinician's Guide to Balance and Dizziness enables the reader to perform a complete and thorough evaluation and helps to provide treatment options for identified deficits that place the patient at risk for falls. Along with numerous diagrams and photos, this text comes with access to a web site containing video clips that demonstrate key evaluation and treatment techniques. The result will be a better evaluation, treatment plan, and outcome. Topics and Features Include: How do we balance? Tests to evaluate the balance-impaired patient Tests and interventions for conditions such as Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), Vestibular Loss, and the central and peripheral causes of dizziness Therapy treatments "How to" instructions throughout Companion web site with video clips demonstrating evaluation and treatments A Clinician's Guide to Balance and Dizziness: Evaluation and Treatment is an easy-to-use reference perfect for professionals who assess and treat balance impairments and dizziness. While it is an instructional text for physical therapy students and clinicians, it is also a great reference for established physicians, vestibular and balance therapy specialists, occupational therapists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, audiologists, and athletic trainers.

In the world of sports, hip injuries among an athletic population can be very difficult to diagnose and manage. That's why" Sports Hip Injuries: Diagnosis and Management "is a comprehensive guide to diagnosing and managing sports hip injuries and hip preservation.
Drs. Bryan Kelly, Asheesh Bedi, and Chris Larson have years of experience caring for athletes at all levels and are leaders in the field of hip preservation. They present "Sports Hip Injuries: Diagnosis and Management" in a concise manner by focusing on hip and pelvis disorders and cover all of the typical disorders seen in athletes presenting with hip and pelivc pain. The anatomy, presentation, clinical work up, imaging, nonsurgical and surgical treatment, and post-surgical rehabilitation of hip joint disorders are presented clearly throughout.
Some of the topics Include:
- Femoroacetabular impingement
- Hip instability/dysplasia
- Athletic pubalgia
- Sports hernia
- Myotendinous injuries and neutral entrapment disorders of the hip and pelvis
- Pediatric hip disorders such as Perthes, SCFE, and hip and pelvis apophyseal
"Sports Hip Injuries: Diagnosis and Management" is an invaluable resource for sports medicine providers including orthopedic surgeons and fellows that care for patients presenting with hip pain for athletes at all levels, as well as physical therapists and athletic trainers.

The interdisciplinary team (IDT) approach is the most effective approach in complex physical rehabilitation - but implementing a successful IDT can be challenging. This new book will help readers to understand more about the variety of professions that contribute to successful IDT working and how team members work together for the benefit of the rehabilitation patient and their personalised goals. This is a comprehensive, practical, evidence-based guide to complex rehabilitation from an IDT perspective, exploring the dynamic and diverse roles and challenges of the team. The fifteen chapters are written by clinicians who are highly experienced across a range of disciplines and settings, from early acute rehabilitation to community rehabilitation. A Practical Approach to Interdisciplinary Complex Rehabilitation will be an invaluable resource for all members of the team, including medical, nursing, dietetics, neuropsychiatry, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, psychology, rehabilitation coordination, speech and language therapy, and vocational rehabilitation therapy. Covers a wide range of different complex rehabilitation settings and clinical conditions Reflective questions in each chapter to inform practice within an IDT User-friendly and easy to read Case studies explore how a successful IDT works in practice

Lippincott (R) Connect Featured Title Purchase of the new print edition of this Lippincott (R) Connect title includes access to the digital version of the book, plus related materials such as videos and multiple-choice Q&A and self-assessments. Trusted for decades by Physical Therapy students as well as experienced therapists who want to improve their knowledge, Tecklin's Pediatric Physical Therapy provides a comprehensive and logical overview of some of the most common pediatric physical therapy diagnoses. This straightforward approach presents basic medical information regarding common clinical diagnostic categories followed by coverage of physical therapy examination, intervention and special considerations within each diagnostic group. Content in this 6th Edition has been thoroughly updated and reorganized to help prepare students for today's clinical challenges, accompanied by case studies and interactive features that reinforce understanding and instill the clinical decision-making skills essential to successful practice. Revised organization reflects the latest information consistent with The APTA Guide to Physical Therapist Practice. New chapters cover regional pain disorders - written by experts working in the premier pain management program in the US - and management of pediatric clients through the transition to adulthood. Updated content presents the most current pediatric PT management approaches to orthotics and prosthetics, complex pain syndromes, autism spectrum disorder and autoimmune disorders. Updated clinical case studies guide students through the patient examination and intervention process. Expanded coverage of Pediatric Practice Settings provides additional context on where pediatric clinicians practice by adding acute care, rehabilitation, and outpatient settings to the existing chapters on NICU and educational settings. Lippincott (R) Connect features: Full access to the digital version of the book with the ability to highlight and take notes on key passages for a more personal, efficient study experience. Carefully curated resources, such as interactive diagrams, audio and video tutorials, and self-assessment, all designed to facilitate further comprehension. Lippincott (R) Connect also allows users to create Study Collections to further personalize the study experience. With Study Collections you can: Pool content from books across your entire library into self-created Study Collections based on discipline, procedure, organ, concept or other topics. Display related text passages, video clips and self-assessment questions from each book (if available) for efficient absorption of material. Annotate and highlight key content for easy access later. Navigate seamlessly between book chapters, sections, self-assessments, notes and highlights in a single view/page.

Mastering the art of manual muscle and sensory testing is the first step on your path to becoming a physical therapist (PT). This easy-to-follow, logically organized resource includes an overview of muscle strength assessment and precise anatomic testing techniques for upper extremities, lower extremities, and head, neck, and trunk; functional muscle tests; tests for mental status, cranial nerves, and superficial reflexes; and use of observational gait analysis as a screening tool. Photographs of testing procedures, line drawings of various innervations, and video clips showing manual muscle testing procedures augment your understanding of this important skill area. Photographs and illustrations demonstrate various techniques to help you better understand positioning, stabilization, and common substitutions. Chapters follow a logical progression from muscle testing to sensory testing to gait assessment, making the learning process clear. Chapters on dynamometry, sensory examination, neurologic examination, and gait provide you with additional need-to-know information on these key topics. NEW! Techniques of Functional Muscle Testing chapter includes completely revised content to give you a strong foundation of testing techniques. UPDATED! Expanded clinical notes and case vignettes challenge you to apply your knowledge to real-world situations and think creatively about clinical problems. UPDATED! Consistent chapter layout by joint and muscle system allows you to easily locate important information. UPDATED! References throughout the book enable you to quickly find the most up-to-date sources on specific topics. UNIQUE! 185 Video clips on the companion Evolve website reinforce your understanding of key techniques, such as muscle tests, handheld dynamometry, pediatric handheld dynamometry, sensory and neurologic testing, proper patient and clinician positioning, and force application.

Skeletal muscle consumes significant amounts of oxygen, and its oxygen flux increases significantly under conditions of exercise and muscle contraction. This makes the muscle vulnerable to oxidative stress since concomitantly with the increase of oxygen flow there is an increase of free oxygen radicals which are a byproduct of muscle respiration. A number of studies in the last decade have documented the involvement of free oxygen radicals in exercising muscles. The consequences of muscle oxidative stress have resulted mainly in increased muscle protein oxidation, elevation of lipid peroxidation, and depletion of muscle antioxidants. The mechanisms of this oxidative stress are under extensive investigation in laboratories around the world and are topics of the chapters in this volume. This book is intended for professionals who are interested in muscle function, physiology, pathophysiology and well-being, such as therapists, trainers and medical professionals as well as for researchers in the field of muscle physiology.