Book Review - The Anatomy of Sports Injuries

The Anatomy of Sports Injuries

by Brad Walker

ISBN 978-1-905367-06-1

£16.99

256 pages

Lotus Books

www.lotusbooks.co.uk

The book has 200 full-colour illustrations showing 119 sports injuries, as well as 150 line drawings of simple measures such as stretching, strengthening and rehabilitation exercises that can be used to aid recovery. However, although the title states that these are sports injuries, many are ailments that anyone could get – for example ingrown toenails, slipped disc, sunburn, broken ribs, and so on. This doesn’t detract from the book in the least, though – in fact it adds to its value, in my opinion. Another must-have.

After the introduction, the chapters are:

1 Explanation of sports injury – including what constitutes a sports injury, what is affected, whether it is acute or chronic, how the injuries are classified, and the distinction between a strain and a sprain.

2 Sports injury prevention – warm up, cool down, the FITT principle, overtraining, fitness and skill development, stretching and flexibility, as well as facilities, rules, and protective devices.

3 Sports injury treatment and rehabilitation – an intro to sports injury management, and regaining the fitness components.

4 Sports injuries of the skin.

5 Sports injuries of the head and neck.

6 Sports injuries of the hands and fingers.

7 Sports injuries of the wrist and forearm.

8 Sports injuries of the elbow.

9 Sports injuries of the shoulder and upper arm.

10 Sports injuries of the back and spine.

11 Sports injuries of the chest and abdomen.

12 Sports injuries of the hips, pelvis and groin.

13 Sports injuries of the hamstrings and quadriceps.

14 Sports injuries of the knee.

15 Sports injuries of the lower leg.

16 Sports injuries of the ankle.

17 Sports injuries of the foot.

Glossary of terms. Five pages of medical terms followed by the anatomical directions and the seven types of synovial joints.

Resources. A full page of further reading.

Index. A comprehensive four pages.

I would recommend this book – it makes a very good companion to ‘The Anatomy of Stretching’ by the same author. You don’t have to be an athlete to benefit from it – just someone with an interest in how the body (particularly the muscular-skeletal system) functions, is injured and can be helped to heal.