Book excerpt: Examination, clinical reasoning, therapeutic interventions, and the therapist-patient relationship all play an inseparable part in the physical therapy process. Physical Therapy and Assessment provides PT students with logical, step-by-step guidance on how to perform examinations, document findings, draw up individual treatment plans, and so help students gain a better understanding of this complex process. Key Features include: More than 350 high-quality color photos and illustrations that accompany detailed assessment descriptions Specific guidance on: structures and functions of the musculoskeletal system; joint measurement based on the neutral zero method; testing intra-articular mobility; cardiopulmonary functions; cardiac stress; and exertion assessment A chapter devoted to pain assessment and management, with access to free patient assessment forms on Thieme's MediaCenter All first-and second-year physical therapy students will find this book a valuable resource that enriches their learning experience and enables them to successfully examine and evaluate patients.