Book, Multimedia,
and Software Reviews
Electrotherapy Explained:
Principles and Practice, ed 4
Robertson V, Ward A, Low J, Reed A.
Philadelphia, PA 19106, Elsevier, 2006,
paperback (with CD-ROM), 448 pp, illus,
ISBN: 0-7506-8843-7, $64.95.
This is the fourth edition of this
text, which was first published
in 1990. Although the types of
physical agents that are used in
the clinic today are essentially un-
changed, the technology used to
deliver physical agents, the way
this technology is used, and the
knowledge necessary for their use
has changed significantly over the
years. The authors state that the
purpose of the new edition re-
mains the same as that of the first
edition: “to keep on explaining
electrotherapy and electrophysi-
cal agents (EPAs).” Although the
purpose remains the same, the
fourth edition is directed at a sig-
nificantly broader audience than
the previous editions. This fourth
edition is designed for current and
beginning practitioners, as well
as physical therapists, dentists,
veterinary surgeons, podiatrists,
and a wide array of other health
care professionals. The book not
only explains how EPAs work
and their clinical application, but
also provides information that can
be used in making the best pos-
sible evidence-based decisions
in practice. To this end, EPAs are
evaluated relative to the biophysi-
cal principles used and the avail-
able clinical evidence for their
effectiveness.
The therapeutic modalities cov-
ered in the book’s 17 chapters
include electrical stimulation, bio-
feedback, and therapeutic heating
and cooling (eg, ultrasound, elec-
tromagnetic fields, and infrared
and ultraviolet radiation, among
several others). Each chapter deal-
ing with these various modalities
follows a similar format. First, the
biophysical principles involved in
1088 ■ Physical Therapy Volume 87 Number 8
the modality are presented, fol-
lowed by the current evidence for
their therapeutic and clinical effec-
tiveness. The rest of the chapter is
then devoted to how the modal-
ity is used clinically and to the
contraindications or dangers in-
herent in its use.
Perhaps one of the most confus-
ing aspects of electrotherapy is
the jargon surrounding the vari-
ous types of electrical current and
the unsupported statements often
made regarding the physiologi-
cal effect or clinical utility. The
authors tackle this issue in their
book head-on; they do a very thor-
ough and straightforward job of
explaining how electrical currents
affect nerve tissue. The reader can
then apply the information in a
logical and systematic approach to
patient care. Although the student
who is unfamiliar with the subject
will likely still have some trouble
keeping all of the various types of
electrical currents straight, the au-
thors’ presentation is clear, direct,
and supported by research. Clini-
cians who are already somewhat
familiar with the topic may be con-
fused as they read the chapters on
this subject. However, if they are
willing to “unlearn” some of their
prior knowledge of the subject
that was incorrect or misleading,
they will gain a better understand-
ing of how electrical stimulation
modalities work and why. As a re-
sult, they will gain a very practical
and functional understanding of
electrical currents that will guide
them in selecting the most appro-
priate treatment parameters.
Although previous editions of this
book have been in print since
1990, it is not a mainstream text
for physical therapist professional
education programs in the United
States. This is unfortunate. The
authors have a very nice style to
their collective writing and have
successfully worked evidence into
all aspects of the subject matter.
As such, I feel that this would be
an excellent text for professional
clinical education programs, es-
pecially if principles and applica-
tion of evidence-based practice
is a focus of the curriculum. This
text would be an excellent re-
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source not just for the beginning
clinician but for anyone looking
to either expand or update their
knowledge on the subject. Final-
ly, the book is accompanied with
a CD-ROM that includes the full
text of 2 additional books: Physi-
cal Principles Explained by Low
and Reed and Biophysical Basis of
Electrotherapy by Ward. The inclu-
sion of the CD makes this text an
even richer source for the best in-
formation concerning therapeutic
modalities.
Mark W Cornwall
MW Cornwall, PT, PhD, is Professor and
Chair of the Program in Physical Therapy,
at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff,
Ariz.
[DOI: 10.2522/ptj.2007.87.8.1088]
Correction
“Till we meet again.” Craik RL.
Phys Ther. 2007;87:830–832.
There was an error in the infor-
mation on new Editorial Board
Member Carolynn Patten, PT, PhD,
in last month’s Editor’s Note. Pat-
ten recently moved from Stanford
University and the VA Palo Alto
Health Care System to take a posi-
tion as Associate Professor in the
Department of Physical Therapy,
University of Florida, Gaines-
ville, and she also will be
part of the group at the Brain
Rehabilitation Research Center at
Gainesville, Florida.
[DOI: 10.2522/ptj.2007.87.7.830.cx]
August 2007