Thermography Training a Must for Physical Therapists

Abstract

As a clinical physical therapist who routinely performs and interprets thermographic evaluations, I was delighted to see Physical Therapy address thermography in a research article (“Thermographic Evaluation of the Painful Shoulder in the Hemiplegic Patient,” by Thurston et al, September 1986). My enthusiasm changed to chagrin, however, as I read, “A thermographer is a physician who has been trained to evaluate a patient's thermographic series.” That simply is not true! Courses in thermography certainly are not restricted to physicians and are attended by physical therapists, dentists, chiropractors, and podiatrists, as well as by physicians. Moreover, physical therapists uniquely are qualified, by virtue of their knowledge of the musculoskeletal system, to use this evaluative tool. Because thermography is not diagnostic but evaluative in nature, it clearly falls within the scope of the practice of physical therapy. Nancy Mathys Thurston, 49A Escondido Village, Stanford, CA 94305