Medicine » Orthopedics, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Physical Therapy Perspectives in the 21st Century - Challenges and Possibilities

Edited by Josette Bettany-Saltikov and Berta Paz-Lourido, ISBN 978-953-51-0459-9, Hard cover, 386 pages, Publisher: InTech, Chapters published April 05, 2012 under CC BY 3.0 license
DOI: 10.5772/2257

This book contains new information on physical therapy research and clinical approaches that are being undertaken into numerous medical conditions; biomechanical and musculoskeletal conditions as well as the effects of psychological factors, body awareness and relaxation techniques; specific and specialist exercises for the treatment of scoliosis and spinal deformities in infants and adolescents; new thermal agents are being introduced and different types of physical therapy interventions are being introduced for the elderly both in the home and clinical setting. Additionally research into physical therapy interventions for patients with respiratory, cardiovascular disorders and stroke is being undertaken and new concepts of wheelchair design are being implemented.

Dr. Josette Bettany-Saltikov

University of Teesside, United Kingdom

Josette qualified as a Physiotherapist in Malta in 1986 and has a master's degree in Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy from the State University of New York at Buffalo (USA). Her PhD from Kings College, University of London, investigated the Topographical, kinesiological and Psychological factors in patients with scoliosis. Josette has over 20 years experience of conducting research studies in spinal deformities and over 17 years experience of teaching research methods to nursing and allied health professionals. She has published over 30 papers in leading journals such as spine, the cochrane library, physiotherapy, physical therapy, the journal of bone and joint surgery and the international journal of therapy and rehabilitation. Josette has also presented over 50 papers relating to scoliosis at both national and international conferences. Together with colleagues at Teesside, Josette has successfully redeveloped the Doctorate in Health and Social Care programme. She is currently supervising two PhD students and two professional Doctoral students and is the module leader for two of the Doctoral modules currently being taught on the Doctoral programme. She has been successful in obtaining research funding both internally, £5,000 for research into scoliosis patients perceptions of medical information provided, and externally from the British Scoliosis Research Foundation (BSRF) for £15,000 to evaluate the information needs of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients at the first point of diagnosis. Josette is a member of the Health Professions Council, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists, the British Scoliosis Society, the International Research society of Spinal deformities and the Society of Spinal and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation Treatment (SOSORT). She is also on the editorial board of the journal scoliosis and the internet journal of rehabilitation and is a manuscript reviewer for a number of journals. She is also a reviewer for the National Institute for Health Research, health technology assessment programme as well as an abstract reviewer for the World Confederation of Physical Therapy Conference.

Fields of Research

Experience

Education

  • 1965 – 1977

    St Joseph School, Malta

  • 1987 - 1989

    Physical Therapy and Exercise Science, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo

    Physical Therapy

  • Life Sciences, KIngs College, London

    1989 – 1993

    Physiotherapy

Editorials

  • Physical Therapy Perspectives in the 21st Century - Challenges and Possibilities
    Physical Therapy Perspectives in the 21st Century - Challenges and Possibilities

    This book contains new information on physical therapy research and clinical approaches that are being undertaken into numerous medical conditions; biomechanical and musculoskeletal conditions as well as the effects of psychological factors, body awareness and relaxation techniques; specific and specialist exercises for the treatment of scoliosis and spinal deformities in infants and adolescents; new thermal agents are being introduced and different types of physical therapy interventions are being introduced for the elderly both in the home and clinical setting. Additionally research into physical therapy interventions for patients with respiratory, cardiovascular disorders and stroke is being undertaken and new concepts of wheelchair design are being implemented.

Publications