Medicine and Science in Aquatic Sports: 10th FINA World Sports Medicine Congress, Kyoto, October 25-28, 1993.

Miyashita M, Mutoh Y, Richardson AB, eds. Basel, Switzerland, S Karger AG, 1994, hardback, 235 pp, illus, $198.50.

The International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education has devoted volume 39 of the Medicine and Sports Science series to the proceedings of the 10th FINA (Federation Internationale de Natation Amateur) World Sports Medicine Congress. The congress was sponsored by the Japan Amateur Swimming Federation, and was held in October 1993. Thirty-five papers from the congress were selected for publication, and compose the content of this volume. The purpose of this book is to contribute to the further development of swimming and sports medicine. The primary audience appears to be swimming coaches as the majority of the volume deals with the physiology, biomechanics, and coaching of swimming, water polo, and synchronized swimming.

This volume is a collection of papers that have been divided into the following categories: physiology of swimming, medical aspects of aquatic sports, biomechanics of swimming, coaching, masters swimming, age-group swimmers and body type, and injuries of aquatic sports. Despite this organization, many papers do not fit into these categories, resulting in a wide variety of content within topic areas. Moreover, the quality of papers is quite varied, ranging from anecdotal reports by organizations to well-referenced experimental research studies. The research reports, in general, include graphs and charts to complement the written results, and contain supporting references. Most reports are brief, with limited discussion sections, and no information regarding a prior review process is included.

Although most of the Volume is dedicated to swimming, a few papers relate directly to physical therapy. Two papers, entitled "Ground Reaction Forces During Walking in Water" and "Cardiorespiratory Responses to Walking in Water," add to the understanding of the biomechanical and physiological aspects of water walking. The three papers in the injuries in aquatic sports section, "Assessment of the Rotator Cuff and a Remedial Exercise Program for the Aquatic Athlete," "Shoulder Pain in Competitive, Age-Group Swimmers," and "A Physiological and Shoulder injury Profile of Elite Divers," provide information valuable to physical therapists treating aquatic athletes.

Overall, this book is compiled primarily for aquatic sports coaches, with limited information for physical therapists. Those physical therapists interested in the coaching, physiology, and biomechanics of aquatic sports may find the other papers useful. Caution must be used in interpreting the results of any paper in this book because of the unclear review process.

Lori A Thein, PT SCS Univ of Wisconsin Hospital Sports Medicine Center Madision, Wis

Ms Thein is a clinical specialist in sports, and teaches in the physical therapy education program at the Univ of Wisconsin-Madison.