Evidence-based practice has become a central part of physiotherapy today, but it is still an area which is constantly expanding and being updated. Written by an international team of experts, this second edition continues to outline the basic definitions of evidence-based practice and clinical reasoning, while detailing how to find and critically appraise evidence and clinical practice guidelines and the steps to follow in the implementation and evaluation of evidence. For those struggling to understand both the concepts and how to implement them, this book will prove to be an invaluable and practical guide. - Considers how both quantitative and qualitative research can be used to answer clinical questions - Written for readers with different levels of expertise - Highlighted critical points and text box summaries (basic) - Detailed explanations in text (intermediate) - Footnotes (advanced) - Presents detailed strategies for searching physiotherapy-relevant databases - Extensive consideration of clinical practice guidelines - Chapter asking the question: When and how should new therapies be introduced into clinical practice? - Search strategies - Evaluating quality of interventions - Placebo effects - Meta-regression

At the request of a Subcommittee of the United States Senate, in February, 1975, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (now the National Institute of Neurological and Communi cative Disorders and Stroke) conducted a Workshop on the Research Status of Spinal Manipulative Therapy. The Workshop was held in response to the Senate Subcommittee's request for an "independent unbiased study of the fundamentals of the chiropractic profession. " Since spinal manipulative therapy is a key tenet of chiropractic, the Institute felt a research workshop focused on that issue would provide a useful base upon which to examine the broad concept of the role of biomechanical alterations of the spine in health and disease. This would include the pathophysiologic and clinical hypotheses formulated by medical and osteopathic physicians as w~ll as chiropractors. Why the relatively sudden interest of the Senate Subcommittee in chiropractic? There were probably many reasons for that interest, but suffice to say anticipation of discussion on the role of chiro practic in any national system of health insurance could in itself have provided adequate stimulus for the request. In any case, the NINCDS was asked to review what was and what was not known about the fundamentals of chiropractic. I stress "fundamentals" since as a research organization, the NINCDS is not charged with review ing matters such as clinical education, licensure or clinical prac tice. A small expert committee of scientific consultants helped the Institute design the format and agenda for the Workshop.

This book presents a framework for development, optimization, and evaluation of behavioral, biobehavioral, and biomedical interventions. Behavioral, biobehavioral, and biomedical interventions are programs with the objective of improving and maintaining human health and well-being, broadly defined, in individuals, families, schools, organizations, or communities. These interventions may be aimed at, for example, preventing or treating disease, promoting physical and mental health, preventing violence, or improving academic achievement. This volume introduces the multiphase optimization strategy (MOST), pioneered at The Methodology Center at the Pennsylvania State University, as an alternative to the classical approach of relying solely on the randomized controlled trial (RCT). MOST borrows heavily from perspectives taken and approaches used in engineering, and also integrates concepts from statistics and behavioral science, including the RCT. As described in detail in this book, MOST consists of three phases: preparation, in which the conceptual model underlying the intervention is articulated; optimization, in which experimentation is used to gather the information necessary to identify the optimized intervention; and evaluation, in which the optimized intervention is evaluated in a standard RCT. Through numerous examples, the book demonstrates that MOST can be used to develop interventions that are more effective, efficient, economical, and scalable. Optimization of Behavioral, Biobehavioral, and Biomedical Interventions: The Multiphase Optimization Strategy is the first book to present a comprehensive introduction to MOST. It will be an essential resource for behavioral, biobehavioral, and biomedical scientists; statisticians, biostatisticians, and analysts working in epidemiology and public health; and graduate-level courses in development and evaluation of interventions.

Spinal Manual Therapy: An Introduction to Soft Tissue Mobilization, Spinal Manipulation, Therapeutic and Home Exercises, Second Edition is an easy-to-follow manual of clinical techniques for the spine, pelvis, and temporomandibular joint. The text provides "tools" rather than "recipes" and immerses the reader in the process of "thinking as a manual therapist", rather than functioning as a technician. The clinical utility of this revised second edition combines the art and science of present day spinal manual therapy. The focus of Spinal Manual Therapy, Second Edition is to provide clinically useful treatment techniques, while being mindful of the scientific literature related to the practice of spinal manual therapy. It is an ideal resource for all those interested in grasping the basics of spinal manual therapy and transferring that knowledge into practice within a clinical environment. The hands-on approach taken by Dr. Howard W. Makofsky makes this new edition the go-to textbook for spinal manual therapy. New to the Second Edition: New pictures of examination and treatment techniques with captions Additional case studies New evidence supporting spinal manual therapy Updated references throughout the text This unique textbook has a plethora of clinical techniques, including the rationale for each of their use. With over 300 figures, illustrations, and photographs for each examination/treatment technique for various regions of the body, students and clinicians learning manual therapy will benefit greatly from Spinal Manual Therapy, Second Edition. Inside you’ll find: Evaluation Soft tissue techniques Manipulative procedures Specific exercises Clinical problem solving Spinal Manual Therapy, Second Edition mirrors a course on the introduction to spinal manual therapy and will be welcomed into physical therapy curriculums, as well as appreciated by clinicians when entering clinical practice.

Rainer Thiele deals with chiropractic and examines two questions: Is chiropractic treatment of lower back pain a successful therapeutic approach? Is chiropractic treatment a standard treatment for headaches? On the topic of chiropractic in lower back pain, a congress abstract was published by the author using the latest randomized clinical studies and discussed as a poster contribution to the 16th Congress for Health Services Research in Berlin. A systematic review answers the question about chiropractic treatment of headaches. About the author: Dr. scient. med. Rainer Thiele wrote this work as part of his doctoral studies in medical science at the UFL (Private University of Liechtenstein) as a cumulative dissertation. He is managing director of the specialist practice for Chiropractic / Osteopathy and Sports Medicine in Munich.