Preface

With the eighth edition of O’Sullivan and Schmitz’s Physical Rehabilitation, we continue a tradition of striving for excellence that was started by Dr. O’Sullivan and Dr. Schmitz more than 40 years ago. They had a vision to create a comprehensive textbook that was written by and for physical therapists. The addition of “O’Sullivan and Schmitz” to the title of the textbook honors the amazing work and broad influence on physical therapy education and practice that Susan and Tom have had over the life span of the textbook. We are humbled and appreciative of the trust that they have placed in us to continue their legacy as the editors of the O’Sullivan and Schmitz’s Physical Rehabilitation. We will continue to strive for excellence.

The text is designed to provide a comprehensive approach to the rehabilitation management of adult patients and clients. As such, it is intended to serve as a primary textbook for physical therapy students and as an important resource for practicing therapists as well as for other rehabilitation professionals. The eighth edition recognizes the continuing evolution of the profession and integrates basic and applied research to guide and inform evidence-based practice. It also integrates principles of patient/client management (examination, evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis, intervention, and outcomes) presented in the American Physical Therapy Association’s Guide to Physical Therapist Practice and terminology from the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health.

O’Sullivan and Schmitz’s Physical Rehabilitation is organized into three sections. Section One (Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9) includes chapters on clinical decision-making and examination of basic systems as well as examination of function and the environment. Section Two (Chapters 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29) addresses many of the diseases, disorders, and health conditions commonly seen in the rehabilitation setting. Appropriate examination and intervention strategies are discussed for related body structure/function impairments, activity limitations, participation restrictions in societal interactions, and quality of life. Health promotion and wellness strategies are also considered. Emphasis is placed on parameters of learning critical to ensuring the patient/client can achieve identified goals and expected outcomes. The final section, Section Three (Chapters 30, 31, 32), includes orthotics, prosthetics, and seating and wheeled mobility.

A central element of the text is a strong pedagogical format designed to facilitate and reinforce the learning of key concepts. Each chapter of O’Sullivan and Schmitz’s Physical Rehabilitation includes an initial content outline, learning objectives, an introduction and summary, questions for review (self-assessment), and extensive references. Web-based resources for clinicians and patients/families are also provided. Application of important concepts is promoted through end-of-chapter case studies, which include guiding questions designed to enhance clinical decision-making skills. Many health condition–focused chapters contain Tables of Outcome Measures emphasizing tests and measures commonly used in clinical practice, and tables that summarize and critically appraise research relevant to the chapter content. Our hope is that these tables may provide a model for readers to continue to critically examine clinical practice using high-quality research findings. We also hope it will inspire enthusiasm about the importance of lifelong and self-directed learning.

The visuals have been enhanced with the addition of new illustrations and photographs. Design changes and a full-color format provide a reader-friendly environment and augment understanding of content. Valuable resources for the eighth edition include seven immersive online case studies with accompanying video segments and guiding questions. These video cases illustrate important components of the history taking, initial examination, and interventions for patients undergoing rehabilitation. Importantly, these video cases provide students with opportunities for critical thinking and clinical decision-making and to receive feedback from expert clinicians on why certain tests and interventions were performed. The cases were authored by practicing therapists from various parts of the country who were directly involved in the care of the case study patient participant. The clinical decision-making skills and clinical skills of these dedicated case study contributors are well represented in the online materials. The case studies include the following:

Immersive Case A: A Patient With Long COVID/Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19

Immersive Case B: A Patient With Acute COVID-19

Immersive Case C: A Patient With Stroke

Immersive Case D: A Patient With Multiple Sclerosis

Immersive Case E: A Patient With Mild Parkinson Disease (mini-case)

Immersive Case F: A Patient With Freezing of Gait Due to Parkinson Disease

Immersive Case G: A Patient With a Lower Extremity Limb Loss Following Amputation

Questions are posed that address key elements in developing the plan of care for each patient. All case study materials (patient history, examination data, video segments, answers to guiding questions for student feedback) are available online at www.FADavis.com. Suggested answers to the end-of-chapter case study Guiding Questions and Questions for Review (self-assessment) are also available online. In separate files, also available at www.FADavis.com, answers to the questions are provided for student feedback.

As we have gratefully noted with previous editions, our greatest asset and inspiration in preparing the eighth edition of O’Sullivan and Schmitz’s Physical Rehabilitation has been an extraordinary group of contributing authors. We are most fortunate to have this group of talented individuals whose breadth and scope of professional knowledge and experience seem unparalleled. These individuals are recognized experts from a variety of specialty areas who have graciously shared their knowledge and clinical practice expertise by providing relevant, up-to-date, and practical information within their respective content areas.

The eighth edition has also benefited from the input of numerous individuals engaged in both academic and clinical practice settings who have used and reviewed the content. We are grateful for their constructive feedback and have instituted many of their suggestions and changes. As always, we welcome suggestions for improvements from our colleagues and students.

As physical therapists continue to take on more and greater professional responsibilities and challenges, the very nature of this text makes it a perpetual “work in progress.” We are grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the academic literature in physical therapy, as well as to the professional development of those preparing to enter a career devoted to improving the quality of life of those we serve.

We acknowledge the very important contributions that physical therapists make in the lives of their patients. This book is dedicated to those therapists—past, present, and future—who guide and challenge their patients to lead a successful and independent life and who work toward building a community to improve the health of society.