Sports Physiotherapy: Applied Science and Practice.

Zuluga M, Briggs C, Carlisle J, McDonald V, McMeeken J, Nickson W, Oddy P, Wilson D, eds. New York, NY 10011, Churchill Livingstone Inc, 1995, hardback, 780 pp, illus, $79.95.

The stimulus for the writing of this book came from the Victorian Chapter of the Sports Physiotherapy Group of the Australian Physiotherapy Association. The group felt there was a need for a comprehensive text covering the subject of sports physical therapy. The book incorporates the contributions of 55 individuals who make up a multidisciplinary team of sports medicine experts. The 780 pages bring together sports physical therapy and current information from related fields of applied anatomy, biochemistry, biomechanics, exercise physiology, and psychology.

The book comprises 38 chapters divided into seven main sections. Section 1 presents fundamental background information on the biomechanical behavior of bone, connective tissue, muscle, and nerve. Detailed information of tissue response to injury, training, and "detraining" is discussed. The section concludes with an examination of current theories of pain.

Section 2 discusses factors related to training and prevention of sports injuries. Intrinsic as well as extrinsic factors are identified, including preseason training, the selection and use of appropriate equipment (particularly footwear), and the need for balanced and progressive training. The research aspects of injury prevention are highlighted.

The next section focuses on the principles of assessment and management of sports injuries. The components of assessment both on and off the field are identified and presented in a usable format. The section highlights the important role of assessment in developing an appropriate management program.

Section 4 begins with information on the role of fitness testing in the management of athletes of all levels of fitness and offers advice on the selection of appropriate tests. Throughout this section, a variety of management and treatment techniques are discussed, ranging from manual therapy to isokinetic dynamometry. Also addressed are recent additions to the fields of sports physical therapy, including aquatic therapy, acupuncture, and neural tension testing.

Section 5 is a single chapter, focusing on the psychological aspect of the athlete in achieving successful rehabilitation and returning to a sport or competition.

Section 6 is devoted to injury management for specific anatomical regions. The basic anatomy and biomechanics of each region are discussed, followed by protocols for assessment and management. The authors of each chapter give their bias to the preferred treatment technique. There is one chapter devoted to the female athlete.

Section 7, the final section, includes an assortment of related topics, such as nutrition, touring with teams, drugs in sports, and legal requirements in physical therapy.

Overall, the book is comprehensive and current. It follows a logical progression from the introduction of trauma and injury to prevention of injury to treatment of regional injuries. Each chapter is well referenced and written in a style that is easily translated for clinical usage. The section on regional management attempts to follow a similar format covering anatomy, biomechanics, assessment, management, and common injuries. Tables and illustrations are used frequently to demonstrate concepts and techniques.

This text is unique in that it covers an extraordinary amount of current information on the topic of sports medicine. I do not think that the anatomy and biomechanics sections are detailed enough to serve a student population, but the book would be a great reference text. This text would be beneficial to a physical therapist whose clinical practice concentrates on the care and prevention of athletic injuries.

Janice K Loudon, PhD, P77 SCS University of Kansas Medical Center Kansas City, Kan

Dr Loudon is Assistant Professor in the physical therapy program at the University of Kansas Medical Center. She has more than 13 years of clinical experience in orthopedics. Her research interest is the study of biomechanics and prevention of injuries in sports.