A must-have book for understanding one of the most fundamental areas
of physical therapy: the nervous system and its relationship to
musculoskeletal pain
Osteopath, lecturer, and author John Gibbons offers an accessible
introduction to the peripheral nervous system (PNS). Alongside real case
studies and guidelines for hands-on work with clients and patients, The
Vital Nerves demystifies and makes accessible everything from how to
diagnose nerve conditions to understanding how our cells communicate.
Gibbons provides critical insights into the structure and functions of
the PNS; the body's response to stimuli and how it knows what to do; the
sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems; understanding the
stress response; and how reflex testing can aid in diagnosing conditions
like Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease, and paresthesias. The
Vital Nerves addresses practical, common considerations like how to:
Assess the nervous system using a patella (reflex) hammer, myotome
(muscle) testing, and dermatome (sensory) testing
Determine whether pain in the posterior part of the thigh is caused by
the sciatic nerve, piriformis, or simply a hamstring strain
Decide at what level a disc may have herniated
Differentiate between upper and lower motor neurone disorders
Know what to do with the findings of your neurological assessment and
the circumstances under which to refer patients for more specialist
care.
The Vital Nerves is a comprehensive roadmap to the functional anatomy
of the nervous system. Enriched with anatomical drawings and detailed
explanations, it explains neurological testing, common neuropathies, and
differential diagnoses, and is an indispensable resource for physical
therapists and bodyworkers.
