ARTICLE IN PRESS

doi:10.1016/j.pt

Physical Therapy in Sport 9 (2008) 105

www.elsevier.com/locate/yptsp

Book review

Physical Therapies in Sport and Exercise, Gregory S.

Kolt, Lynn Snyder-Mackler (Eds.). 2nd ed. Elsevier,

Edinburgh, Churchill Livingstone (2007). 662 pp., ISBN:

9780443103513

The ever-decreasing half-life of our profession’sknowledge base is evident by the large number ofchanges between the 1st and this, the 2nd, edition of thiscomprehensive text.

Attempting to cover all aspects of physiotherapymanagement within the field of Sports Medicine is nomean feat, and the authors are to be congratulated forassembling such an excellent collection of acknowledgedspecialists in their fields. Contributions from bothclinicians and academics recognise the need for acombination of clinical expertise and the best availableevidence from systematic research when determiningpatient management. The concept of a ‘‘team approach’’that is so vital in the clinical practise of Sports Medicineis evident in this text when looking at the professions ofthe authors—this is not a text written by orthopaedicsurgeons alone, but by doctors, nurses, physiotherapists,exercise physiologists—all contributing to the everexpanding knowledge base of Sports Medicine.

Comparisons are inevitable with the other ‘‘bible’’ ofSports Medicine—Clinical Sports Medicine by Brucknerand Khan (2007), also recently updated. The two textsare complimentary—this one having a greater emphasison some of the theoretical aspects of pathology, tissuemechanics and management principles. The excellentchapter by Jill Cook dealing with tendon biology andpathology helps the reader understand both the complexnature of disorders involving this tissue and thedifficulties associated with management. Likewise, achapter on ligaments covers the principles of biomecha-nics, injury and repair, without providing ‘‘recipes’’ fortreatment, that the clinician can use to reason and justifyan approach to management.

Greg Kolt’s chapter on Pain and Paul Hodges’scontribution on Motor Control both provide newdirections in the management of sports-related injuries.Too often, pain mechanisms are not considered ade-

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quately in the athletic population, where the medicalmodel has over-focussed on determining a pathoanato-mical cause for symptoms. In a limited space, Gregprovides a good overview of pain mechanisms, assess-ment and management, and, as with every other chapterauthor, provides a comprehensive reference list to directfurther reading. It is pleasing to see a chapter within aSports Medicine text, in which muscle strength andendurance are usually the focus, having a chapterdealing with more specific motor control and co-ordination. Readers who think that Paul Hodges is thefather of ‘‘Core Stability’’ should read this chapter togain a deeper understanding of the complex nature ofmovement dysfunction and motor learning.

Chapters concerning the management of problemsrelating to specific body regions give a good overview ofproblems relating to these conditions. The focus by authorsis often variable—some dealing primarily with examinationand rehabilitation principles while others chose to discusscommon pathologies seen in these areas of the body. Thechapter on the Spine will provide new information to manyreaders with an emphasis on examination and classificationinstead of a pathological diagnosis.

This text is a good starting point for any medicalprofessional on most aspects of Sports Medicine,whether they relate to the theoretical concepts, diagnosisand imaging, modalities and medication or the clinicalmanagement of various conditions. With the additionalreference lists at the conclusion of each chapter, PhysicalTherapies in Sport and Exercise provide readers with theability to practise the Evidence-Based Medicine that weshould all be aiming for in patient management.

Reference

Bruckner, P., & Khan, K. (2007). Clinical sports medicine (3rd ed.).

Australia: McGraw-Hill.

Claire SmallClinical Director, Pure Sports Medicine,

London SW7 4XR, UK