Rehabilitation of sports injuries: scientific basis

Jack Edward Taunton

Walter R. Frontera, editor

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Malden (MA): Blackwell Science; 2003. 326 pp. US$125 (cloth) ISBN 0-632-05813-7

Rating: ***

Audience: Consultants in sports medicine and exercise management; family physicians

Content: A publication of the International Olympic Committee's Medical Commission, this is the 10th volume of the Encyclopedia of Sports Medicine. Edited by Walter Frontera, chair of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Harvard, it is an excellent and detailed text with up-to-date discussions of the basic science and of rehabilitation after sports injury. The book opens with an in-depth review of the pathophysiology of injury, skeletal muscle regeneration, and bone and tendon repair. The basic science section, particularly the description of anterior cruciate grafts, is outstanding. It is followed by discussions of the physiology of detraining and the vicious cycle of overuse injuries so commonly seen today. A very useful review of the psychological response to sports injury and rehabilitation is included. The chapters on the management of pain and inflammation with pharmacology, acupuncture and physiotherapy are comprehensive but would have most interest for researchers. The text is completed with a practical, state-of-the-art presentation on strength, flexibility and proprioception retraining (including functional rehabilitation programs for running, baseball, tennis and soccer) and with a brief but useful review of orthotics and bracing.

Strengths: The basic science section is excellent and thorough, making this a useful text for full-time practitioners on the sports medicine team. It would be particularly useful for those working in the science of physiotherapy and in primary care sports medicine and orthopedics, and is a must for graduate students in the field.

Limitations: This volume would be improved with the inclusion of more practical rehabilitation programs for use in family practice. Specific strength, flexibility and proprioceptive programs for common injuries such as anterior cruciate ligament injuries, patellar femoral pain and Achilles tendinopathy would be useful. Likewise, a specific walk–run program following tibial stress fracture, to take one example, would round out the book.

Jack Taunton Allan McGavin Sports Medicine Centre Division of Sports Medicine Department of Family Practice University of British Columbia Vancouver, BC

This book is available through your local book retailer, or through the publisher at www.blackwellpublishing.com/book_default.asp