Optimizing Pediatric Physical Therapy: A Comprehensive Guide

By Roberta O’Shea PT DPT PhD, Pediatrics for the Physical Therapist Assistant, 2nd Edition offers a comprehensive and easy-to-understand guide for physical therapist assistants in treating and managing pediatric conditions. This book provides the necessary knowledge and skills for success in both the classroom and clinical practice.

Understanding Child Development and Assessment Tools

This edition covers a wide range of topics including child development, assessment tools, intervention principles, neurologic and muscular disorders, and congenital disorders such as Down Syndrome. It also discusses other pediatric conditions including limb deficiencies and sports injuries.

New Chapters and Features

This updated edition includes six new chapters, one of which introduces Movement Systems Analysis for pediatrics. The book teaches not only the lessons learned from textbooks and research but also from children and their families. Consistent approach in Disorders chapters first defines the disorder and then describes the pathology, clinical signs, and assessment and intervention, followed by a case study.

Case Studies and Learning Features

Case studies provide examples of physical therapy applications, helping readers build clinical reasoning skills as they connect theory to practice. Each case is summarized in the WHO model format to familiarize readers with the standardized terminology used in practice. Most cases include movement systems analysis to introduce the most current clinical reasoning strategies encouraged by the APTA.

Learning features in each chapter include key terms, a chapter outline, learning objectives, review questions and answers, illustrations, and summary tables. A full-color design is added to this edition, making the content more engaging and easier to understand.

Updated Content and References

New content includes musculoskeletal impairments, developmental impairments, and orthotics as well as contemporary cases with ICF and Movement system analysis discussion for cases. Updated references ensure that sources for content are completely current.

Pediatrics for the Physical Therapist Assistant, 2nd Edition is an essential resource for physical therapist assistants, providing comprehensive knowledge and practical skills to succeed in pediatric physical therapy.