Heart Disease and Rehabilitation, 3rd ed.

Pollock ML, Schmidt DH, eds. Champaign, IL 61825-5076, Human Kinetics Inc, 1995, 472 pp, hardcover, illus, $59.

Like a bottle of fine wine, this text has dramatically improved with age. The third edition has been significantly rewritten and has added a number of new topical areas, and the coverage of the other chapters included in the second edition, published in 1986, has been expanded. The text is organized into six parts: epidemiology of heart disease; the patient with heart disease: pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment; risk factor modification rehabilitation of the patient with cardiac disease; special considerations in cardiac rehabilitation; and cardiac rehabilitation in perspective. There are 30 chapters, ranging from legal considerations and patient compliance in cardiac rehabilitation to medical versus surgical management of the patient with cardiac disease and exercise testing with clinical applications.

Each of the 30 chapters is filled with the most recent and updated data on all aspects of the treatment and rehabilitation of the patient with cardiac disease. There are numerous figures, illustrations, tables, and actual data from nuclear and echocardiographic evaluations to assist the reader in gaining a further understanding of the implications of cardiovascular pathophysiology. There is an extensive reference list at the end of each chapter, and the chapter authors are all known authorities in the field of cardiology and cardiac rehabilitation. The text includes several outstanding chapters on altitude and cold effects, drug effects, nuclear cardiologic and echocardiologic noninvasive tests, coronary angiography, medical versus surgical management of the patient with cardiac disease, and an excellent chapter on the mechanisms by which exercise training may improve the clinical status of patients with cardiac disease.

Part 3 on risk factor modification and part 4 on rehabilitation of the patient with cardiac disease provide the clinician experienced in cardiac rehabilitation with the latest and most important information to bring their cardiac rehabilitation program to the "next level." One of the major values of this text, however, is that it can serve as a handbook for the general physical therapy clinician to learn the "ins and outs" of cardiac rehabilitation and the implications of cardiac rehabilitation in patients with orthopedic, neurologic, or other problems with concomitant cardiovascular pathology. Cardiovascular disease and its complications continue to be the number one cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States, and, with the aging population, a significant number of patients who have orthopedic and neurologic pathology will also have some form of cardiovascular disease. Clinicians, therefore, must take into account the cardiovascular pathology, physiology, medications, and implications in the design of the comprehensive rehabilitation program. Heart Disease and Rehabilitation provides clinicians with the information they need to integrate the principles of cardiac rehabilitation into their treatment programs and to address the cardiovascular complications seen in many of their patients.

This text should serve as a valuable reference and resource for students and clinicians in all aspects of physical therapy. No other text on the market provides such a wealth and breadth of information on cardiac rehabilitation or is as well written, easy to use as a reference, and comprehensive in nature.

Jeff Falkel, PhD, PT, CSCS Denver, Colo

Dr Falkel is a Consultant for a Private practice. He specializes in exercise and cardiovascular physiology and teaches classes in cardiac rehabilitation.