Brukner & Khan's Clinical Sports Medicine

Abstract

The vision statement of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association is “Canadians are moving, moving more and moving better with the help of physiotherapy.” As physiotherapists rise to the occasion to meet this vision, sport and exercise medicine are becoming more relevant for many clinicians. Previous editions of Brukner & Khan's Clinical Sports Medicine have been considered “the bible of sports medicine,” and this new edition is no exception. The information amassed by an international group of more than 100 experienced and respected physiotherapists, physicians, and scientists makes this authoritative resource a must-have for physiotherapists serving athletes, teams, and active people in the community. This fourth edition of Clinical Sports Medicine has evolved significantly from earlier versions and includes 13 new chapters covering such topics as physical activity promotion, challenging hip pain, hand and finger injuries, medical emergencies in the sporting context, and exercise to treat neurological diseases. Many chapters have undergone major updates, resulting in a clinically relevant and comprehensive book that continues to be a respected guide to the complete medical care of people participating in physical activity and sport. Intended for use by a wide variety of health professionals and trainees, Clinical Sports Medicine adopts a broad, multidisciplinary approach that integrates best evidence and clinically relevant topics. The book is organized into five parts. Part 1, “Fundamental Principles,” provides a great foundation in sport and exercise medicine; biomechanics of sports, injury prevention, and return to sport following rehabilitation are well covered. The chapter on pain science has been significantly revamped, and chapters dedicated to integrating evidence into practice and physical activity promotion for the clinicians are well thought out and valuable additions to this section. Part 2, “Regional Problems,” outlines a symptom-oriented approach to treating sport-related musculoskeletal clinical problems. The physiotherapist can select the chapter that best describes a client's presentation (e.g., shoulder pain, acute ankle injuries) and review the likely differential diagnoses and physical examination and treatment techniques, with a particular emphasis on specific and functional exercise therapy. The emphasis on rehabilitation principles and treatment protocols for specific injuries is a major strength of this book. A notable addition to this section is the chapter on hip-related pain, which clarifies the concept of femoroacetabular impingement and its diagnosis and management. Key guest contributors offer updated approaches to specific “hot topics,” including a fully revamped discussion of neck pain (with Gwen Jull), additional tips on management of tendinopathies (with Jill Cook and others), and a discussion of whether ACL injuries should be managed conservatively or operatively (with Richard Frobell and Liza Arendt). Part 3, “Special Groups of Participants,” covers the expected populations, such as younger and older athletes and athletes with differing abilities. A new chapter on military personnel highlights important differences to consider with this group, such as the special culture of the military environment. Part 4, “Management of Medical Problems,” covers topics ranging from sport cardiology and medical emergencies in sport to managing acute and chronic symptoms with exercise. One chapter in this section offers a quick guide to exercise prescription for specific medical conditions, reinforcing the idea that exercise as medicine is important for every client. Part 5, “Practical Sports Medicine,” includes information not typically included in other sport medicine texts and deals with practical issues such as providing team care, travelling with a team, covering endurance events, and ethics and sport medicine. Readers will appreciate how easy this book is to use. The chapters are logically organized and colour coded, important concepts are reinforced with flow diagrams, and information is organized in tables throughout the chapters. The wealth of illustrations and beautiful artwork make this a very visually appealing resource. Clinical Sports Medicine is also truly a dynamic textbook. The accompanying PIN gives readers 12 months of access to online videos on physical examination, treatment techniques, and injection techniques covered in the text. These “master classes” are an exciting addition to the fourth edition. The companion Web site features podcasts and a blog, and readers can follow a Twitter feed (@CSM4ed) for regular book updates. Overall, this is an incredibly valuable and practical textbook. Its breadth of clinical application and its comprehensiveness make it suitable for seasoned and less experienced practitioners alike, whether treating elite athletes or the athlete within. Dr. John Sutton, who wrote the foreword to the first edition (1993), reproduced in the current edition, put it best: “In Clinical Sports Medicine the authors take sport and exercise medicine out of the realm of the elite athletes and place it fairly and squarely where it belongs—as a subspecialty to serve everyone in the community who wishes to be active” (p. v).1(p.v)