Hip and Knee Pain Disorders: An evidence-informed and clinical-based approach integrating manual therapy and exercise

Hip and Knee Pain Disorders has been  written to provide a state-of-the-art, evidence-informed and  clinically-informed overview of the examination and conservative  management of hip/knee pain conditions. Under the current predominantly  evidence-based practice paradigm, clinician expertise, patient  preference, and best available research determine examination, and  prognostic and clinical management decisions. However, this paradigm has  been understood by many to place greater value and emphasis on the  research component, thereby devaluing the other two. Evidence-informed  practice is a term that has been suggested to honor the original intent  of evidence-based practice, while also acknowledging the value of  clinician experience and expertise. In essence, evidence-informed  practice combines clinical reasoning, based on current best evidence,  with authority-based knowledge and a pathophysiological rationale  derived from extrapolation of basic science knowledge. Unlike other  published textbooks that overemphasize the research component in  decision-making, this book aims to address the clinical reality of  having to make decisions on the management of a patient with hip/knee  pain, in the absence of a comprehensive scientific rationale, using  other sources of knowledge. It offers an evidence-informed textbook that  values equally research evidence, clinician expertise and patient  preference.

The book is edited by three recognised  world leaders in clinical research into manual therapy and chronic pain.  Their research activities are concentrated on the evidence-based  management of musculoskeletal pain conditions using conservative  interventions. For this book they have combined their knowledge and  clinical expertise with that of 38 additional contributors, all  specialists in the field The contributors include a mix of clinicians  and clinician-researchers.

Hip and Knee Pain Disorders is unique in  bringing together manual therapies and exercise programs in a  multimodal approach to the management of these pain conditions from both  a clinical, but also evidence-based, perspective. It acknowledges the  expanding direct access role of the physical therapy profession. The  book provides an important reference source for clinicians of all  professions interested in conservative management of the hip and knee  regions. It will also be useful as a textbook for students at both entry  and post-graduate level.