[libribook.com] Traumatic Scar Tissue Management 1st Edition

Evolution is Fundamental
Health care is an ever-evolving environment. As healthcare providers within the
field of manual therapy, we are continually learning new discoveries about the
body’s response to trauma, injury, healing and touch.
Newer technologies that aid imaging (e.g. high definition real-time ultrasound
and endoscopy) and advances in research have been instrumental in expanding
our understanding of important clinical considerations and in supporting the
development of evidence-based practice guidelines. Additionally, the higher
levels of educational preparation currently available to MT practitioners aid in
the ability to find, critically evaluate and utilize best available evidence.
Evidence-based practice (EBP) emerges from evidence-based medicine (EBM),
which Sackett et al. (1996) define as integrating client values with clinical
expertise and the best available research evidence. Best research evidence
encompasses best available clinical, client-centered research that examines the
accuracy, safety, efficacy and cost effectiveness of diagnostic and assessment
procedures, prognostic markers and therapeutic interventions. Clinical expertise
encompasses the therapist’s ability to use clinical skills and past experience to
both identify each client’s unique health status and the potential risks and
benefits of the proposed interventions. Client values speak to the individual’s
unique preferences, goals and expectations within the therapeutic relationship
(Andrade 2013). Evidence for massage is information on massage practice that
researchers and therapists collect in a systematic manner (Sackett et al. 2000). In
practice it is desirable to be as evidence-based as possible, and be evidence
informed when definitive evidence does not exist (Fritz 2013).
Haraldsson (2006) states:
Patient Oriented Evidence (POE) asks the important question; ‘Does this
new evidence impact the patient by changing the prognosis of the
illness/impairment or increase the quality of life?’ As a profession, we need
to come together and create evidence-based practice guidelines to improve
our practices and keep up with the changing health care environment.