Back Stability: Integrating Science and Therapy - 2nd Edition (2008)
Christopher M. Norris
ISBN: 978-0-7360-7017-1
The 2nd edition of this popular book looks at the relationship between back pain, lumbar stability and muscular imbalance.
The first part provides an in-depth but clear insight into the concepts of back stability, why instability is the main cause of back pain and what effect this instability has on the movement patterns and soft tissue structures of the human back. The illustrations throughout this book are simple but excellent and really help to demonstrate the anatomy, mechanics and ideas that this book is based upon.
Parts 2 covers what to include and look for when assessing a client presenting with back pain, including tests and assessment methods, each with its own page to explain the process, with a photo for clarity.
Following the assessment techniques, there is a step-by-step journey through exercises designed to stretch and strengthen imbalanced muscle groups and re-educate correct posture, from the very first session, through to speed, power and functional training exercises.
This is an excellent book from a well respected author, making it an essential reference point for any practitioner or student whose profession requires them to assess and treat back pain through exercise therapy.
The Clinical Orthopedic Assessment Guide - 2nd Edition (2008)
Janice Loudon, Marcie Swift, Stephania Bell
ISBN: 978-0-7360-6709-6
The Clinical Orthopaedic Assessment Guide must be one of the most useful books currently available to every kind of therapist who assesses and treats musculoskeletal injuries.
The book is essentially divided into individual joints and provides an in-depth assessment protocol. Information included for each joint includes everything needed to perform the most extensive of assessments. This includes anatomy of the region, normal ranges of motion, passive accessory movements, end feels, capsular patterns, special tests, arthrokinematics, neural information and muscle origin, insertion, action and nerve supply. Each chapter also contains an examination sequence and table containing injury symptoms, history, relevant tests and interventions.The last section in the book focuses on functional assessment, posture and gait of the lower limb and neurodynamic testing.
Throughout the book there are many illustrations and photographs to demonstrate anatomical structures and the majority of assessment techniques. For the most part these are clear and very useful.
In the whole this book is a near perfect guide through musculoskeletal injury assessment, through which all practitioners can work, at their own level.
Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning - 3rd Edition (2008)
Thomas R Baechle and Roger W Earle
ISBN: 978-0-7360-5803-2
This book covers every aspect of strength training that an athlete or coach could ever need. It not only demonstrates each exercise clearly, one or two to a page with photographs, step-by-step instructions and which muscle are being worked, but it also goes into very detailed explanations of the anatomy, physiology and biomechanics behind strength training. Other chapters include psychology of athletic preparation, performance enhancing substances and nutritional factors.The book also goes into detail regarding training program design, periodisation, plyometrics, sprint training and rehabilitation . Surprisingly, given the title, it also covers aerobic endurance training.
Overall this is an excellent book, with very detailed content and very clear illustrations and photographs. It may be a little too detailed for most recreational athletes and weight-lifters, but is a must-have for students of sports science (and other related subjects), as well as serious coaches and athletes.
Effective Functional Progressions in Sport Rehabilitation (2009)
Todd Ellenbecker, Mark De Carlo and Carl DeRosa
ISBN: 978-0-7360-6381-4
Bridging the gap between gym based rehabilitation exercises and returning to competitive play with functional exercises is often overlooked in the world of physical therapy. 'Effective Functional Progressions in Sport Rehabilitation' aims to provide a guide for therapists involved in this late phase of rehab.
Part one explains the benefits of functional progressions and provides guidelines for developing functional programs. Part two is then split into three chapters, upper extremity, lower extremity and trunk. Each section reviews the anatomical, muscular and biomechanical features of the region as well as common injuries. This is all followed by the all important functional testing and exercise progression sections. At this point, each exercise contains information regarding the start position, action, muscles worked, indications and contraindications as well as a start and end position photograph.
Whilst there is some sport specific reference, particularly for tennis, basketball and golf in upper extremity, and distance running for the lower extremity, we feel that expanding this area would be beneficial and perhaps more so than the anatomy review sections. Nevertheless, this book is highly useful for demonstrating the way in which steady progressions should be used to re-introduce a player to their sport.
Functional Testing in Human Performance (2009)
Michael P Reiman and Robert C Manske
ISBN: 978-0-7360-6879-6
This is a great reference book for all professionals involved in assessing human movement and performance. It covers every aspect of movement analysis in great detail, from balance tests, to aerobic capacity tests and strength and power assessments. There is a test for every fitness level from sedentary, through to the serious athlete.
Particular positives in this book are the test finder at the beginner which allows you to very quickly and easily find the exact test, or type of test you are looking for. Also, the reproducible test sheets at the end, which can be copied to allow for accurate recording of test results. The photos and descriptions of the tests are also exceptional.
The only negative is the number of assessments which state 'there are no known normative data for this test', especially in the muscle length testing section. Previous texts have stated 'norm' measurements which are extremely useful in determining if test results fall within this bracket. On the whole however, this is an excellent book which would be an asset to any physical therapist or sports coach.
Related External Links:
Human Kinetics Publishers |
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