OVERALL RATING Good STRENGTHS Gives a broad reference for both medical and musculoskeletal problems related to sport and exercise WEAKNESSES The book tries to do everything, so some chapters are short on specifics; some inconsistencies of style between chapters appear; information about a single topic might appear in various parts of the book, making reading difficult in some cases AUDIENCE Providers of sports medicine
The preface of this book does not identify a clear purpose. The text appears to be intended for primary care physicians who look after musculoskeletal disorders; however, less than half the book is devoted to musculoskeletal disorders. The rest is devoted to medical issues of sport and exercise. The book is generally well written and easy to follow. Because the book attempts to do so much in such a relatively small volume, however, some topics get little coverage. Some chapters, by different authors, reference source material more fully than others. Because of this variation, this is not a definitive text in all areas, which might disappoint some readers.
The first half of the book is divided into chapters on medical issues related to sport and exercise. More global topics, such as nutrition, environmental issues, psychology, exercise prescription, and pre-participation examinations, are also included. These are generally well done; however, issues of overtraining are in a number of different areas and are not well covered. Inclusion of forms that practitioners can use is helpful. The Drugs in Sport section is inadequate for those who require such information.
The musculoskeletal chapters generally include most problems, but do not discuss them in great depth. Intermittent discussions on physical examination techniques are not particularly helpful for those familiar with musculoskeletal examination. They are not comprehensive enough for those who do not have strong skills in the area. Again, because information is sometimes contained in various chapters, readers are forced to search the index when looking for a specific diagnosis to make sure that all the information is gleaned from the book. The short section on taping, wrapping, and bracing seems to be an add-on. The section on principles of rehabilitation really does not offer readers management strategies.
Overall this book introduces a lot of information to the reader. The book rarely goes into depth, likely because of space considerations. Generally I found the medical aspects of this book better than the musculoskeletal aspects. I would recommend this book to those wanting a reference on a range of topics, but not to anyone who wishes in-depth discussion on any one topic. The book is generally easy to read and understand.
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