Special Tests for Orthopedic challenge the reader to develop their own The tests in this guide represent
ts in this guide represent a wide
Examination, ed 3
Konin JG, Wiksten DL, Isear JA Jr, Brader
H. Thorofare, NJ 08086, Slack Inc,
2006, spiralbound, 400 pp, illus, ISBN:
1-55642-741-7, $38.95.
This text, authored by both physical thera-
pists and athletic trainers, is intended
to provide a condensed guide for the
examination of people with orthopedic
injuries. In my opinion, this goal has been
surpassed.
Designed as a “pocket-style” manual, the
400 pages in this third edition push the
definition of “pocket guide,” but make
up for the additional size with an abun-
dance of information. Designed for physi-
cal therapists, athletic trainers, physicians,
physician assistants, and occupational
therapists, this text covers a plenitude of
orthopedic tests. Like other texts of this
kind, the special tests in this book are
organized into 12 sections according to
the major spinal segments and periph-
eral joints. A total of 155 special tests are
offered, ranging from as few as 3 for the
temporomandibular joint and thoracic
spine sections to as many as 34 for the
shoulder. In addition to the joint-by-joint
arrangement, an alphabetical index at the
end of the text allows the reader to search
for tests by name.
Significant improvements from the first
and second edition are evident. The
authors have removed tests not supported
by the literature and replenished this
third edition with relevant, special tests
with greater scientific support. New to
this third edition is the inclusion of refer-
ences that accompany the presentation
of each special test. Although references
were included in earlier editions following
each chapter, the authors have attempted
to include pertinent peer-reviewed litera-
ture immediately following the descrip-
tion and depiction of each test. These
references are offered as support for the
tests and, in many cases, to provide infor-
mation regarding the historical, anatomi-
cal, and comparative issues related to each
test. This evidence-based approach is a
distinguishing factor of this third edition.
The authors, in recognizing the lack of
evidence for many currently popular tests,
Physical Therapy . Volume 86 . Number 9 . September 2006
conclusions and clinical support for the
tests.
The final section, “Contemporary Special
Tests,” also is new to this edition, and
it offers 5 novel, but increasingly popu-
lar, tests. These include the impingement
reduction test, the walking arm stress test,
the finger extension test, the flexor prona-
tor syndrome test, and the tarsal twist test.
The book’s new spiralbound design facili-
tates practical use, allowing the reader
to lay the text open while performing or
practicing a test. Besides increased ease
of use, the spiralbound feature eliminates
cracked bindings and loose pages, that
result from repetitively prying the text
open and laying it flat for better viewing.
The 8½-in × 5½-in size and 400 pages
may not be a true “pocket guide,” but the
pages are much easier to view than many
smaller guides that require the reader to
view the tests from a short distance while
performing the tests.
Each test is neatly and concisely organized
with the corresponding photographs on
the adjacent page and with the following
subsections: (1) “Test Position,” which
describes the appropriate positioning
of the examiner and the patient; (2)
“Action,” which describes the examin-
er’s movement specific to the test and,
as appropriate, the associated action of
the patient; (3) “Positive Finding,” which
describes the associated response to the
test action that would indicate a positive
test; (4) “Special Considerations/Com-
ments,” which offers points of clarifica-
tion, experience-based suggestions, and
special situations regarding the tests;
and, for most tests, (5) “References,” for
further information. Inclusion of these
clearly delineated subsections instead of
continuous paragraphs greatly facilitates
use by allowing the reader to locate the
desired information.
Each special test is accompanied by one
or more black-and-white photos clearly
depicting the position of the examiner
and the patient. Another new and very
instructive feature of this third edition
is the placement of arrows demonstrat-
ing the test movement, or action, of the
examiner and the appropriate action of
the patient.
variety of the common and widely used
tests, which are often considered “entry-
level,” to the lesser known or rarer tests,
which are sometimes used by clinicians
who have greater experience. A pleasing
feature of this text is the focus on the
special tests. Unlike other texts that cover
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special tests, this particular text does not
veer from its focus by offering reviews of
joint anatomy, physiology, or pathology.
In this manner, the text remains true to
its purpose and packs a load of content in
each section.
This text offers much information to
those clinicians with limited experience in
orthopedic examination. With the addi-
tion of peer-reviewed references for each
test and new or contemporary tests, even
the experienced orthopedic clinician will
find this text useful. Its organization and
ease of use are very appealing features. I
recommend this text to anyone involved
in the examination of orthopedic injury.
James W Bellew, PT, EdD
Louisiana State University Health Science
Center—Shreveport
Shreveport, La
Bellew is Associate Professor in the Department
of Physical Therapy. He has authored more
than 25 articles and chapters on various top-
ics and currently teaches electrophysiology and
exercise physiology.
[DOI: 10.2522/ptj.2006.86.9.1311.1]
Correction
In Figure 1 illustrating the resistance train-
ing program in the article titled “Effect of
Brisk Walking in 1 or 2 Daily Bouts and
Moderate Resistance Training on Lower-
Extremity Muscle Strength, Balance, and
Walking Performance in Women Who
Recently Went Through Menopause: A Ran-
domized, Controlled Trial” by Asikainen et
al in the July 2006 issue, 2 photographs
are mislabeled in the figure caption. Pho-
tograph I depicts the stretching exercise
for the calf muscles (30 seconds each leg),
and photograph L depicts the stretching
exercise for hamstring muscles rather than
the calf muscles (30 seconds each leg). The
authors regret the errors.
[DOI: 10.2522/ptj.2006.86.9.1311.2]
1311