Physical Therapy
From Simmons Library Research Guides
We have selected these resources to help you find relevant information on your research topic. Please contact a librarian for help using the resources listed in this guide or for help with your research process.
Contents |
Reference and Background Information
Search for Reference sources that contain information about your specific research topic here:
You may also consult the resources below for overviews of the topic that you have chosen to research. Use these resources to help you to put your topic in context and give you the big picture of what information exists about your topic. These resources may have bibliographies at the end of each entry that can help further your research.
- Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment
Books - Level 1 Reference RC71 .A14 and Simmons Eresource
This is an excellent resource for developing a strong background on the many medical disorders, treatments, diseases, and symptoms that can require physical therapy as treatment. User friendly in both its print and online versions.
- The Gale Encyclopedia of Nursing & Allied Health
Level 1 Reference RT21 .G353 2002
A five volume encyclopedia set that contains extensive entries on all of the tests, equipment, procedures, diseases, systems, and other information that is relevant to nurses and nursing students. Entries provide a full, detailed definition, symptom description, related diseases, diagrams, and much more.
- Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine
Level 1 Reference RC46 .H333 2005 and Simmons Eresource
This is one of the most reliable and accurate medical text books available. This edition is full-color and updated to include the latest medical treatments and technology. Though these two volumes contain a great deal of information, it is well-organized and a great resource for medical research.
- How to Find Information in the Physical Therapy Literature
Free Online
It can be difficult to conduct research on physical therapy, and especially difficult to understand the professional literature. This free web page offers research tips, database and web page recommendations, and links to related journals and magazines.
Note: Some of the the resources discussed may only be available with a subscription. However, Simmons does subscribe to many of the discussed resources. For more information, ask a reference librarian.
- Merck Manual of Medical Information
Level 1 Reference RC81.M535 2003 and Simmons Eresource
You can find a section on nearly every medical disorder in this comprehensive reference work, as as sections about the fundamentals of the human body, drug information, and other other special subjects. Be sure to take a look at section 5 ("Bone, Joint, and Muscle Disorders"), and section 24 ("Accidents and Injuries").
- Mosby's Medical, Nursing, & Allied Health Dictionary
Level 1 Reference R121 .M89 2002
A comprehensive dictionary of diseases, symptoms, important people, procedures, and much more complete with color diagrams and photos. Also included are measurement conversions, symbol and abbreviation charts, a guide to medical terminology, explanations of physiology, and much more. Also available online.
- Physician’s Desk Reference
Level 1 Reference RS75 .P5 2007
This large reference source compiles all of the available manufacturer information on over 4,000 prescription drugs.Included are color pictures, relevant diagrams and illustrations, directory information for the drug manufacturer, and clear guidelines for treatment of symptoms.
- Stedman’s Medical Dictionary
Level 1 Reference R121 .S8 2000
A comprehensive medical dictionary with illustrations, Latin translations, synonyms, abbreviations, and much more. It is organized according to a min entry/subentry format, so that a large term such as cell or bone will have all of the related terminology listed below the main entry (for example, T Cell and facial bone).
Musculoskeletal System
- The Encyclopedia of the Muscle and Skeletal Systems and Disorders
Level 1 Reference RC925.5 .S29 2005
This encyclopedia is meant to aid health professionals in researching the common and uncommon skeletal and muscular disorders, such as arthritis and fibromyalgia. There is also in-depth look at the muscular and skeletal systems, and how disorders affect those systems. Entries include an in-depth definition and explanation, as well as sources for further reading.
- Evaluation, Treatment, and Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders
Reserves - Level 1 - Circulation Desk RC925 .S28 2004
A thorough and useful guide to diagnosing, treating, and preventing musculoskeletal disorders for physical therapists. Includes sections on spinal injuries and treatments, joint disorders, exercises for each area of the body, and much more.
- Hands on : a Clinical Companion : Steps to Confidence in Musculoskeletal Diagnosis
Books - Level G RC925.7 .B76 2004
A quick-reference guide for physical therapy students and practitioners that covers all topics related to treating patients for musculoskeletal disorders. Besides defining disorders and treatments, it also has sections about taking a case history, the best ways to discuss diagnoses with patients, physical exams and tests, and much more. Sections are supplemented with useful charts and diagrams.
- Illustrated Dictionary of the Musculoskeletal System
Level 1 Reference QM100 .M44 1998
With over 4,600 terms, and hundreds of diagrams and illustrations, this is one of the most thorough examinations of the musculoskeletal system available.
- Kinesiology of the Musculoskeletal System : Foundations for Physical Rehabilitation
Level 1 Reserves QP303 .N465 2002
Noted for seamlessly integrating text and explanatory illustrations, diagrams, and photographs, this book guides students through the difficult science of human movement and biomechanics in a user friendly way.
Cardiovascular System
- Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy : a Guide to Practice
Books - Level G RC702 .C37 2004
Meant for a new student of cardiopulmonary physical therapy, this book provides a comprehensive overview that does not overwhelm the reader. There is an extensive overview of the cardiopulmonary physical therapy, as well as sections on common cardiopulmonary diseases, drug treatments, and abnormal symptoms, among many others.
- Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy : an Evidence-based Approach
Books - Level G RC702 .D48 2004
Provides an evidence-based approach to cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapy. Contains twenty-two chapters with topics ranging from anatomy illustrations to a guide to medication to risks and diseases. Examples of true cases are provided to assist with applying learning.
- Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy : Evidence and Practice
Books - Level G RC702 .P76 2006
- Clinical Management Notes and Case Histories in Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy
Books - Level G RC702 .R455 2004
This book not only provides clinical information for cardiopulmonary physical therapists such as treatments,disorders, and therapy techniques, but also focuses on how to interact with patients and keep them well-informed about their conditions and treatments.
Movement Science
- Clinical Exercise Physiology
Books - Level G RM725 .C582 2003
This reference source is meant for physical therapists that do work with patients with chronic disorders and diseases. Provides a comprehensive overview of topics such as pharmacology, legal issues, and taking a medical history. The book also devotes a great deal of time to the treatment of specific diseases and disorders.
- Computational Intelligence for Movement Sciences, Neural Networks and Other Emerging Techniques
Simmons Eresource
Containing state-of-the-art research outcomes, this guide provides a comprehensive overview of the various approaches and techniques for analyzing human movements.
- Exercise Physiology for Health Care Professionals
Books - Level G QP301 .C46 2001
An integration of clinical information and case studies for physical therapists. Many topics are covered including nutrition, metabolism, disease prevention, exercise testing, and much more.
- Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation
Books - Level G RC350.N48 B35 2000
- Therapeutic Exercise : Moving Toward Function
Books - Level G RM725 .H33 2005
Not just a clinical text book. Along with providing an understanding of essential exercises, anatomy, and muscle function, this book guides physical therapists on how to prepare patients for exercises, how to assess what exercises are appropriate for different patients, teaching methods, and many more patient centered topics. Also contains many colorful diagrams, charts, and illustrations to further understanding.
Sports Therapy/Treatment
- Dictionary of the Sport and Exercise Sciences
Level 1 Reference GV558 .D53 1991
This dictionary covers terminology from the main subdisciplines of sports and exercise sciences including biomechanics, exercise psychology, and motor development. Entries include a concise but clear definition, synonyms, and diagrams and illustrations when relevant.
- Encyclopedia of Sports Science
Level 1 Reference GV558 .E53 1997
Do you need to understand how sports injuries occur? How about the chemistry of protective padding, the mechanics of balance, or the physics of bowling? This two volume encyclopedia provides all kinds of scientific information relating to specific sports, movement, mechanics, and equipment.
- Sports Injuries Sourcebook : Basic Consumer Health Information about Common Sports Injuries
Level 1 Reference RD97 .S736 1999
This source is intended for the general public, but can be of great use to health professionals and students as well. Sections include the understanding injuries, tips for injury prevention (including tips for specific sports), treatment options, and much more.
Research Data/Design/Methods/Reviews
- Ethics and Evidence-based Medicine: Fallibility and Responsibility in Clinical Science
Books - Level G R725.5 .G66 2003
Reviews the history and conceptual origins of evidence-based practice, and discusses key ethical issues that arise in clinical practice, public health and health policy.
- Instruments for Clinical Health-care Research
Books - Level G RT81.5 .I57 2004
Provides a discussion of how a clinician assesses patients of different ages, from special populations, symptoms, injuries, and behaviors.
- Physical Agents in Rehabilitation : from Research to Practice
Books - Level G RM700 .P464 2003
A comprehensive introduction to physical agents meant for the physical therapy student, rather than a practicing clinician. Guides readers through the physics behind each agent, the effects of each agent on different kinds of patients, and how an agent should be used.
- Physical Therapy Research: Principles and Applications
Reserves - Level 1 - Circulation Desk RM708 .D66 1993
This book discusses the principles of research and reading of professional literature, and advises physical therapy students on the ways to apply those principles to their own reading and research. Covered topics include experimental and non-experimental research, measurement theory, and a discussion of quantitative and qualitative research.
- Rehabilitation Research: Principles and Applications
Books - Level G RM930 .D66 2005
- Writing Case Reports: a How-to Manual for Clinicians
Reserves - Level 1 - Circulation Desk RM708 .W74 1996
Finding Articles
Below are suggested databases and indexes for articles on the topic that you have chosen to research. These databases include articles from newspapers, magazines and scholarly journals. Articles are shorter and more narrowly focused than books or reference materials so you should use them after you have narrowed your topic.
- CINAHL
Simmons Eresource
Provides authoritative coverage of the literature in nursing and allied health. Over 1200 English-language nursing and allied health journals are indexed along with virtually all publications from the American Nurses' Association and the National League for Nursing. Selected journals in biomedicine, consumer health, health sciences librarianship, behavioral sciences, and education are also included. CINAHL also provides references to healthcare books, book chapters, pamphlets, audiovisuals, nursing dissertations, educational software, selected conference proceedings, standards of professional practice, nurse practice acts, critical paths, and research instruments.
Note: while CINAHL is primarily a citation database, Simmons subscribes to a special enhanced version that includes the full text for articles from about 250 publications.
- Evidence Based Medicine (EBM) Reviews
Simmons Eresource
This database includes four resources - the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effectiveness, the ACP Journal Club and Definitive Controlled Trials. These provide a "systematic reviews of topics; article reviews; and access to definitive controlled trials" to help clinicians practice Evidence Based Medicine.
- Medline
Simmons Eresource
Created by the National Library of Medicine, Medline provides access to articles about biomedical, health, and biological. It is the "authoritative medical information on medicine, nursing, dentistry, veterinary medicine, the health care system, pre-clinical sciences, and much more." Approximately 5,000 of the world's leading biomedical journals are indexed in Medline.
- Health Reference Center
Simmons Eresource
Use this database to find articles on: fitness, pregnancy, medicine, nutrition, diseases, public health, occupational health & safety, alcohol and drug abuse, HMOs, prescription drugs, etc.
- Health Business Fulltext
Simmons Eresource
A database that is especially good for finding articles and information about topics related to the business aspects of medicine, such as the influence of pharmaceutical companies, and other economic aspects of medicine.
- Academic Search Complete
Simmons Eresource
Academic Search Complete is a great place to start your search for both popular and scholarly articles, no matter what your topic is! It contains journals from almost every topic and is designed specifically for academic institutions. It provides more than 5,300 full-text periodicals, 4,400 of which are peer-reviewed journals. This resource also features content as far back as 1865.
- Academic Onefile
Simmons Eresource
Academic Onefile contains 8,000 academic journals, the majority in full-text, available in HTML and PDF formats. In addition it contains hundreds of podcasts and transcripts from NPR, CNN, and the CBC.
- Expanded Academic ASAP
Simmons Eresource
From arts and the humanities to social sciences, science and technology, this database meets research needs across all academic disciplines. Access scholarly journals, news magazines, and newspapers - many with full text and images. Updated daily.
TIP: Use the Advanced Search for a more precise search!
Searching the Web
Tips for Searching the Internet:
- Use the advanced search function, which is available from most search engines:
- Google - See also "Advanced Search Tips"
- Ask - Click "Advanced." See also "Advanced Search Tips"
- Live (MSN) - See also "Options"
- Exalead - See also "Exalead FAQ"
- Yahoo! Search
- Limit your search to .edu and .gov sites. These often provide quality research, statistics, and commentary. Sites ending in .org often have good information, too, but are likely to espouse a strong stance or bias on the issues they cover and may not be objective.
- Try Scandoo, which presents search results from Google, Yahoo! Search, or Live (MSN) with an evaluation about the objectivity, credibility, and overall reliability of the site.
- Consider using a directory of pre-screened, annotated sites:
Writing Style and Citation
For more information on style and citation for this discipline, please contact the Simmons College Writing Center
You may also consider consulting these resources:
- Writing Resources
Free Online
The Writing Center provides online resources for citing your research. If you are unsure of which citation style to use, consult your professor and consider the following:- Use APA (American Psychological Association) when your topic is in the Social Sciences
- Use ASA (American Sociological Association) when your topic is in Sociology
- Use MLA (Modern Language Association) when your topic is in the Humanities
- Use Chicago/Turabian when your topic is in Literature, History or the Arts
- Use CSE (Council of Science Editors) when your topic is in the Sciences
- RefWorks
Simmons Eresource
RefWorks is a great program for organizing articles, books, and other materials you need for research. You can also use RefWorks to create bibliographies, create in text citations in your paper (Write-N-Cite), and share your research with others. Access RefWorks from the A-Z list of resources on the library's web page, and then follow the instructions to create your own username and password. We hold RefWorks Clinics throughout the semester. For more information, ask a reference librarian
