This text is a review of sports injuries and their management using conservative methods. It is edited, and authored by numerous contributors, primarily chiropractors. It is divided into four sections beginning with a review of the basic concepts of sports injuries and rehabilitation. I particularly enjoyed reading about the role of joint manipulation and soft-tissue techniques; topics which are all too often omitted from similar texts. The second section takes a systems approach to sports injuries explaining the relevant anatomy, mechanics of injuries, evaluation of injuries and rehabilitation approaches. The third section outlines the special considerations that should be afforded to the female, young, senior and extreme athlete. The final section consists of chapters on diagnostic imaging, nutrition and performance-enhancing drugs.
The text is designed around a site-specific approach to sports injuries drawing upon the expertise of its multiple contributors. While this format is largely effective, it is at times detrimental to the organization of the text. For example, separate chapters on conservative rehabilitation of injuries, manipulation and diagnostic imaging would have been better integrated into the main body of the text. Also, rather than listing all the conservative treatment options available to the practitioner, every injury or system could have included recommendations on how each method could be applied to it.
Despite these minor limitations, this is a well-referenced review of sports injuries and their management. Both sports chiropractors and those treating “weekend-warriors” will find many practical applications to the information contained within it.