Book Info
Loyola Univ., Maywood, IL. Guide, for occupational and physical therapists, in the use of casts to manage upper and lower extremity contractures and hypertonicity. Includes abundant halftone illustrations. DNLM: Casts, Surgical--Muscular Diseases.

ANNOTATION

The book contains black-and-white illustrations.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

"...An excellent reference for any clinical setting in which casting is a regular part of clinical rehabilitation services."——Physical Therapy (80:3)

"This book is truly a one—source, how—to, as well as why, guide to casting which will be a valuable resource for many rehabilitation professionals."——JOSPT (30:3)

This book is a comprehensive, up—to—date treatment of both the theory and clinical techniques of fabricating and using inhibitory and serial casting. Chapters present specific technique suggestions for fabricating five types of upper extremity casts and four types of lower extremity casts, as well as modifications that can be made to these basic casts. In addition, a technique for fabricating casts for use as orthoses (bivalving) is covered. Numerous photographs and forms detail procedures and outcomes. The primary audience for the book is practicing physical and occupational therapists and therapy students as well as physicians, physician assistants, and orthotists.

FROM THE CRITICS

Syed Omar Ahmed

The authors of this book provide theoretical rationale as well as a practical guide for using casting for multiple diagnoses. In addition, they provide detailed implementation documents in appendixes, which are of great clinical value. This book directs OTs and PTs in the use of casts to manage hypertonicity and contractures. There are few guides that compile this range of resources on any allied health topic, let alone casting. The authors achieve their goal of directing OTs and PTs in the use of casts to manage hypertonicity and contractures in outstanding fashion. The book is designed for clinical practitioners; however it would be valuable for students and educators as well. The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago is an institution with an impeccable international reputation, which reflects well upon the credibility of the text. The theoretical underpinnings as well as the clinical competence required for cast use are explained in this book. The authors provide practical examples of the how to and why of casting procedures. Its strength is in the "rubber hits the road" practicality that will aid the practitioner and the clinical manager in implementing casting in their clinics. The shortcomings are that there are no references in the second chapter and that there are few recent references in a quick review of the reference sections (of the three chapters I reviewed, the newest is 1995). A more comprehensive literature review will increase its clinical effectiveness, as well as assist the researcher when using this text for specific diagnoses. This book represents a significant extrapolation on casting compared Christiansen's Occupational Therapy: Enabling Function andWell-Being, 2nd Edition (Slack, Inc, 1997), Trombly's Occupational Therapy for Physical Dysfunction (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 1995), and Burn Care Today. It can be considered a central resource that can be accessed and utilized by clinicians and managers (as well as students and educators) in implementing casting in clinical practice. This can be an effective and essential resource for most rehabilitation facilities and libraries that are concerned with OT/PT education.

Doody Review Services

Reviewer: Syed Omar Ahmed, OTR/L (Theraputic Specialties, Inc.)Description: The authors of this book provide theoretical rationale as well as a practical guide for using casting for multiple diagnoses. In addition, they provide detailed implementation documents in appendixes, which are of great clinical value. Purpose: This book directs OTs and PTs in the use of casts to manage hypertonicity and contractures. There are few guides that compile this range of resources on any allied health topic, let alone casting. The authors achieve their goal of directing OTs and PTs in the use of casts to manage hypertonicity and contractures in outstanding fashion. Audience: The book is designed for clinical practitioners; however it would be valuable for students and educators as well. The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago is an institution with an impeccable international reputation, which reflects well upon the credibility of the text. Features: The theoretical underpinnings as well as the clinical competence required for cast use are explained in this book. The authors provide practical examples of the how to and why of casting procedures. Its strength is in the "rubber hits the road" practicality that will aid the practitioner and the clinical manager in implementing casting in their clinics. The shortcomings are that there are no references in the second chapter and that there are few recent references in a quick review of the reference sections (of the three chapters I reviewed, the newest is 1995). A more comprehensive literature review will increase its clinical effectiveness, as well as assist the researcher when using this text for specific diagnoses. Assessment: This book represents a significant extrapolation on casting compared Christiansen's Occupational Therapy: Enabling Function and Well-Being, 2nd Edition (Slack, Inc, 1997), Trombly's Occupational Therapy for Physical Dysfunction (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 1995), and Burn Care Today. It can be considered a central resource that can be accessed and utilized by clinicians and managers (as well as students and educators) in implementing casting in clinical practice. This can be an effective and essential resource for most rehabilitation facilities and libraries that are concerned with OT/PT education.

Booknews

Practitioners at the Institute draw on their own experience and that of others to offer a guide for rehabilitation professionals, primarily occupational and physical therapists, to using casts to manage upper and lower extremity contractures and hypertonicity. They describe new types of casts, refinements in selecting candidates and accurately predicting goals, and using other techniques in conjunction with casting. They also warn about balancing the benefit against the disability and handicap of wearing a cast, and about skin and vascular problems that may arise. Above all, they recommend that no one without training or experience apply casts based only on this book. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

RATING

3 Stars from Doody

ACCREDITATION