Most orthopaedic surgeons realize that rehabilitation is the fundamental
key for good functional recovery and is the "gold standard" for
nonoperative treatment. This book provides a wonderful starting point for
nonoperative treatment by providing standard, accepted rehabilitation
protocols that can be tailored to the rehabilitative needs of each
patient.
The information and illustrations will serve as a great adjunct to patient
education and will help the orthopaedist and his or her dedicated support
staff to explain common orthopaedic problems to the patient. The office staff
can either photocopy the various exercise protocols for patients to take home
or they can print out copies with the CD-ROM that accompanies the book, thus
minimizing the expense associated with outpatient rehabilitation.
The book covers a sizeable collection of orthopaedic injuries and also
addresses various sports-medicine issues in general. Although a greater amount
of discussion has been devoted to orthopaedic topics than to nonorthopaedic
topics, the nonorthopaedic topics are quite pertinent to adolescent athletes
and will provide the caregiver with an important starting point for the
discussion of important societal issues with these young patients.
Information about a variety of drugs is also provided and includes facts
about non-mainstream drugs such as clenbuterol, caffeine, glucosamine,
anabolic steroids, and androstenedione. Many questions regarding these drugs
are sure to be raised by patients or their families, and, although the
information in this book won't answer all of the questions that may be raised,
it will lay the foundation for expanded discussion.
The diagrams of the physical-therapy exercises are excellent and are ones
that I use in my everyday practice. Overall, the authors include well-accepted
rehabilitation exercises that can be tailored to a patient's specific injury.
The appendix provides additional, excellent musculoskeletal diagrams, although
some of them may be more detailed than most patients will understand.
This book is designed for the sports-medicine physician as well as
ancillary office support staff and is a useful addition to an orthopaedist's
armamentarium. It is also an excellent resource for physical therapists,
occupational therapists, or athletic trainers who are working in an
orthopaedist's office.
In short, Instructions for Sports Medicine Patients is
cosmetically appealing, is very well written, and is suitable for its target
audience.