Occupational Therapy and Physical Dysfunction

The sixth edition of this classic book remains a key text for occupational therapists, supporting their practice in working with people with physical impairments, stimulating reflection on the knowledge, skills and attitudes which inform practice, and encouraging the development of occupation-focused practice. Within this book, the editors have addressed the call by leaders within the profession to ensure that an occupational perspective shapes the skills and strategies used within occupational therapy practice. Rather than focusing on discrete diagnostic categories the book presents a range of strategies that, with the use of professional reasoning, can be transferred across practice settings.

This edition heralds a new era in which an international editorial team has coordinated the great work of the retiring founding editors, Annie Turner, Marg Foster and Sybil Johnson. The new editors have radically updated the book, in response to the numerous internal and external influences on the profession, illustrating how an occupational perspective underpins occupational therapy practice. A global outlook is intrinsic to this edition of the book, as demonstrated by the large number of contributors recruited from across the world.

• Covers everything the student needs within the physical disorders part of their course
• Links theory of principles to practice and management
• Written and edited by a team of internationally experienced OT teachers, clinicians and managers
• Gives key references and further reading lists for more detailed study
• Written within a framework of lifespan development in line with current teaching and practice
• Includes practice scenarios and case studies
• Focuses on strategies

• Subtitle reflecting the primacy of occupation in occupational therapy practice
• Inclusion of practice scenarios to illustrate the application of theory to practice
• Features such as chapter summaries and key points, providing a quick overview of each chapter
• A focus on strategies rather than diagnostic categories
• Consideration of individuals, groups and communities
• An international perspective
• Language that is person-centred and inclusive
• New editorial team endorsed by the former editors including Annie Turner

Michael Curtin is Head of School and Associate Professor, School of Allied Health, Exercise and Sports Sciences at Charles Sturt University, Albury, NSW, Australia.