Essentials of Primary Care Sports Medicine.

Essentials of Primary Care Sports Medicine Landry GL, Bernhardt DT. Champaign, IL 61825-5076, Human Kinetics, 2003, hardcover, 342 pp, illus, ISBN: 0-7360-0323-1, $55.

This book was compiled from an athletic training course rifled, "Medical Aspects of Exercise and Sports," which the authors developed and taught for 12 years. In the book, the authors draw on their years of practice, teaching, and experience as university team physicians. They are associate professors of pediatrics and sports medicine at the University of Wisconsin Medical School. Throughout the text, the authors emphasize practical information on symptom presentation, the taking of a medical history, and the decision to refer the athlete to another health care practitioner.

The text does not cover traumatic or musculoskeletal disorders; instead, the book focuses on the many common problems that athletes may experience and the most common pathologies that athletic trainers and sports physical therapists may encounter.

Part I covers disorders of various body systems, such as cardiac, neurologic, and gastrointestinal pathologies. An exhaustive review of each system, according to the authors, is not possible, but the most common pathologies are presented. For example, chapter 3, which deals with neurologic disorders, presents information on concussions, but also explains seizures, infectious brain diseases, and headaches.

Part II covers infectious and allergic disorders. One chapter is dedicated to each of the following: dermatologic, respiratory, and sexually transmitted diseases, as well as other common infectious diseases. In each chapter, the most common conditions that affect athletes are covered.

Part III deals with nutritional and pharmacological concerns. In these chapters the authors discuss various nutritional concerns, such as energy requirements for peak performance and common supplements. Ergogenic aids and drug testing in the athletic setting also are discussed.

The last section covers special issues such as environmental concerns (eg, heat/cold injuries, altitude sickness, and lightning safety). The National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) position statement on lightning safety is used as a framework for this section. Other chapters in this section illuminate psychological aspects of injury, rehabilitation, and adolescence. The preparticipation physical examination is outlined as well.

Other helpful features that students will appreciate include the objectives, summaries, references, recommendations for further reading, and terms and definitions that are present in each chapter. A glossary and index also are included. It is easy to see this book as a classroom text for athletic training students. It would also be a handy reference in the athletic training room to help prevent and treat athletes with these common medical problems.

Terry Randall, PT, DPT, OCS, ATC 

Total Rehab Center

Somerset, Ky

Dr Randall is co-owner of Total Rehab Center, an outpatient orthopedic clinic. He is a clinical instructor for several physical therapy programs, and his clinical and teaching interest is in primary care and patient management.