Sports Injury Handbook: Professional Advice for Amateur Athletes.

Levy AM, Fuerst ML. New York, NY 10158-0012, John Wiley & Sons Inc, 1993, paperback, 284 pp, illus, $16.95.

This book was written as a reference tool for the recreational athlete. It covers a wide variety of topics related to sports medicine with an emphasis on sports injuries and rehabilitation. The book is not intended to detail every aspect of each injury, but only to provide quick references and fundamental knowledge.

The text is divided into five parts. The first part addresses prevention of injuries through proper warm up and conditioning and the role of nutrition in athletics. The second part presents common risks and precautions with exercise programs and outlines basic first aid for familiar problems. The third part of the book is organized by area of the body and examines and explains the most common injuries that occur. The authors highlight fundamental exercises for both rehabilitation and prevention of injuries. The fourth part of the text focuses on injuries related to each specific sport. An interesting ingredient to this part of the text is the "How to Improve" section that follows each sport and gives the reader suggestions on improving their performance through exercise. The last part of the book addresses the concerns of the female, child, and older athlete and how to select a competent sports specialist.

The authors do a thorough job in covering the vast areas of sports injuries. The well-organized manner in which the book is written makes for easy reading and prompt referencing. The terminology used is appropriate for the average reader without any medical background. The written text is complemented by an adequate number of illustrations. The authors also use a method of three symbols that designate an emergency situation in need of immediate medical treatment, injuries that need to be evaluated by a physician, and injuries that may be treated independently.

This book serves its purpose in providing basic understanding and care of common, sports-related injuries. It targets the recreational athlete, who I feel is an appropriate audience for the book. Most sports and orthopedic physical therapists know the material presented in this book. Physical therapists who do not work routinely with recreational athletes may find this book a good reference tool.