Clinical Kinesiology And Anatomy

Fifteen years ago, this project began as an attempt to provide a basic Kinesiology and Anatomy text to

Physical Therapist Assistant students. Jean-Francois  Vilain, publisher at F.A. Davis Company recognized the

need and published this as the first textbook written for the Physical Therapist Assistant. The narrow title,

Clinical Kinesiology for Physical Therapist Assistants was chosen to try to encourage others to write much-needed books and publishers to publish them. While many books have been written, there remain content areas

lacking appropriate texts, and where students would benefit if they existed. Our work here is clearly not

done.

However, the publisher felt that the time had come to change the title of this text to Clinical Kinesiology and

Anatomy, opening the market to other disciplines.

However, this text remains a basic textbook. Students who want a basic understanding of kinesiology and

anatomy with a clinical perspective will find this text of great value. Examples, activities, and exercises are not

focused solely on physical therapy, but have been broadened to be of use to those in occupational therapy,

athletic training, massage therapy, and other fields needing this basic level of understand.

As with previous editions, the emphasis is on basic kinesiology and anatomy. Simple, easy-to-follow

descriptions and explanations remain the core of this book. Clinical relevance has been increased by the addi

tion of the following: (1) Brief definitions and descriptions of common pathologies in terms of anatomical

location; (2) In addition to general anatomy review,questions involving the analysis of functional activities

and clinical exercises.

Not all disciplines may need all of the information within this text. Some disciplines may not place emphasis on the arthrokinematic features, for example. The book is written so that the arthrokinematic chapter can be omitted from study. Examples andquestions regarding this subject matter can also be omitted without the student being at a disadvantage in terms of understanding other subject matter. The chapters dedicated to the various joints begin with the upper extremity and proceed to the axial skeleton, and then to the lower extremity. However, because these chapters are essentially self-standing, the order in which they are read can easily be changed. One could

begin with the lower extremity, or with the axial skeleton and not lose understanding.

There are several textbooks that give a more indepth analysis of the subject matter; however, Clinical Kinesiology and Anatomy is intended to provide an easyto-understand basic introduction.