Skip to main content
  • Other Publications
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
Advertisement
JCORE Reference
this is the JCORE Reference site slogan
  • Home
  • Most Read
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Editorial Board
  • More
    • Advertising
    • Alerts
    • Feedback
    • Folders
    • Help
  • Patients
  • Reference Site Links
    • View Regions
  • Archive

Diagnosis by the Physical Therapist—A Prerequisite for Treatment

Shirley A Sahrmann
Published 1 November 1988
Shirley A Sahrmann
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • Article
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF
Loading

A Special Communication

Abstract

A critical step for the future of the profession of physical therapy is the development of diagnostic categories. The purpose of this communication is to clarify issues regarding the role of the physical therapist in developing classifications of the signs and symptoms that are identified by the therapist's examinations and tests. A primary premise is that treatment should be based on the diagnosis derived by the physical therapist because the medical diagnosis does not provide sufficient direction. A generic definition is given as a guide for development of diagnostic classification schemes. Arguments are provided that these diagnoses will 1) clarify practice, 2) provide an important means of communication with colleagues and consumers, 3) classify and group conditions that can direct research and assessment of treatment effectiveness, and 4) reduce the tendency toward cultism associated with practice based almost entirely on treatment approaches.

Key Words:
  • Classification
  • Diagnosis
  • Physical therapy profession, professional issues
  • Received April 11, 1988.
  • Accepted May 30, 1988.
Back to top
Vol 96 Issue 12 Table of Contents
Physical Therapy: 96 (12)

Issue highlights

  • Musculoskeletal Impairments Are Often Unrecognized and Underappreciated Complications From Diabetes
  • Physical Therapist–Led Ambulatory Rehabilitation for Patients Receiving CentriMag Short-Term Ventricular Assist Device Support: Retrospective Case Series
  • Education Research in Physical Therapy: Visions of the Possible
  • Predictors of Reduced Frequency of Physical Activity 3 Months After Injury: Findings From the Prospective Outcomes of Injury Study
  • Use of Perturbation-Based Gait Training in a Virtual Environment to Address Mediolateral Instability in an Individual With Unilateral Transfemoral Amputation
  • Effect of Virtual Reality Training on Balance and Gait Ability in Patients With Stroke: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
  • Effects of Locomotor Exercise Intensity on Gait Performance in Individuals With Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury
  • Case Series of a Knowledge Translation Intervention to Increase Upper Limb Exercise in Stroke Rehabilitation
  • Effectiveness of Rehabilitation Interventions to Improve Gait Speed in Children With Cerebral Palsy: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
  • Reliability and Validity of Force Platform Measures of Balance Impairment in Individuals With Parkinson Disease
  • Measurement Properties of Instruments for Measuring of Lymphedema: Systematic Review
  • myMoves Program: Feasibility and Acceptability Study of a Remotely Delivered Self-Management Program for Increasing Physical Activity Among Adults With Acquired Brain Injury Living in the Community
  • Application of Intervention Mapping to the Development of a Complex Physical Therapist Intervention
Email

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word on JCORE Reference.

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
Diagnosis by the Physical Therapist—A Prerequisite for Treatment
(Your Name) has sent you a message from JCORE Reference
(Your Name) thought you would like to see the JCORE Reference web site.
Diagnosis by the Physical Therapist—A Prerequisite for Treatment
Shirley A Sahrmann
Physical Therapy Nov 1988, 68 (11) 1703-1706;

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
Save to my folders

Share
Diagnosis by the Physical Therapist—A Prerequisite for Treatment
Shirley A Sahrmann
Physical Therapy Nov 1988, 68 (11) 1703-1706;
del.icio.us logo Digg logo Reddit logo Technorati logo Twitter logo CiteULike logo Connotea logo Facebook logo Google logo Mendeley logo
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One
  • Article
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF

Related Articles

Cited By...

More in this TOC Section

  • Selected Problems in the Use of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation for Pain Control—An Appraisal with Proposed Solutions
  • Obstetrical Physical Therapy
Show more Practice

Subjects

Footer Menu 1

  • menu 1 item 1
  • menu 1 item 2
  • menu 1 item 3
  • menu 1 item 4

Footer Menu 2

  • menu 2 item 1
  • menu 2 item 2
  • menu 2 item 3
  • menu 2 item 4

Footer Menu 3

  • menu 3 item 1
  • menu 3 item 2
  • menu 3 item 3
  • menu 3 item 4

Footer Menu 4

  • menu 4 item 1
  • menu 4 item 2
  • menu 4 item 3
  • menu 4 item 4
footer second
footer first
Copyright © 2013 The HighWire JCore Reference Site | Print ISSN: 0123-4567 | Online ISSN: 1123-4567
advertisement bottom
Advertisement Top