597

reviews Physical Therapy of the Shoulder

by Robert A Donatelli. Churchill Living- stone, Edinburgh, 1997, 3rd edn (ISBN 0 443 0759 1 3). Illus. 39 1 pages. f50.

As in previous editions of this third edition of Physical Therapy for the Shoulder it is aimed at ‘any rehabil- itation professional entrusted with the care and treatment of mech- anical and pathological shoulder dysfunction’.

The book is organised into five main sections based on mechanics of movement and evaluation; neurologic considerations; special considerations; treatment app- roaches; and surgical consider- ations.

The first section consists of three chapters. The first provides an excellent review of the functional anatomy and mechanics of the shoulder complex, perhaps one of the most comprehensive and well- referenced reviews in print. This is followed by a chapter on throwing injuries, which considers the mechanics of throwing, associated injuries, and a relatively brief summary of approaches to manage- ment. A series of appendices to the chapter provides detailed informa- tion on which to base rehabilitation programmes. The final chapter in this section covers differential diag- noses of soft tissue lesions affecting the shoulder complex, describing in full special diagnostic tests.

The second section is based on neurological elements of problems affecting the shoulder complex, and consists of five chapters. This section presents an extremely comprehensive coverage of a wide range of neurological contributions to shoulder disorders, ranging from shoulderlspine relationships, evalu- ation of neural tissue limitations, thoracic outlet syndrome, and brachial plexus lesions, and finally a chapter on the shoulder in hemi- plegia.

The third section, headed ‘special considerations’, covers three very common shoulder pathologies - impingement syndromes, frozen shoulder and rotator cuff lesions - and the section is completed with

a chapter on shoulder pain origi- nating from visceral pathology. As is a feature throughout the book, this section is well illustrated with diagrams and photographs to support the text, and is compre- hensively referenced.

While almost all chapters have a ‘treatment’ element, the fourth section co-ordinates approaches to treatment consisting of chapters on manual therapy, strengthening exercises, myofascial treatment and - recognising increasing access to isokinetic equipment - a chapter on isokinetic assessment and treat- ment. Again, the use of excellent illustrative photographs and case studies supplements the text, and all chapters are well supported by references.

The final section of the book considers surgical management of shoulder pathology, incorporating chapters on instability, rotator cuff repair, fractures and shoulder replacement.

This is an excellent book, covering a multitude of problems associated with the shoulder complex, to which physiotherapists are exposed. In spite of the wide remit of the book,

Posterior glide of humerus. ‘Physical Therapy of the Shoulder’ describes posi- tions of patient and therapist

there is never a feeling that the issues are being dealt with in a superficial manner, but neither is the book daunting to the reader. The comprehensive list of references supporting each chapter provides evidence cf a well-researched book, and the accessible text, liberally illustrated by excellent photo- graphs, diagrams and case studies, makes this book ideal for physio- therapists in all situations - research, clinical practice, acade- mics and undergraduate and postgraduate study.

Kate Kerr PhD BA MCSP CertEd

PostGradDipHE

Clinical Disorders of Balance, Posture and Gait edited by Adolfo M Bronstein, Thomas Brandt and Marjorie Woollacott, Arnold, London, 1996 (ISBN 0340 60145 0). 350 pages. f85.

This book aims to provide a physio- logical basis for the mechanisms underlying abnormal balance, posture and gait from a multi-dis- ciplinary perspective. I t is divided into five sections starting with an overview of normality, followed by assessment, a summary of clinical disorders and a section on rehab- ilitation. I t ends with a section devoted t o the problems of gait and falls in the elderly.

The first section on normal and developmental aspects of balance and gait contains three chapters. The first, on posture and equilib- rium, makes the point that posture and balance are the foundation for voluntary skills; however it is diffi- cult to highlight from the literature presented what are the main contro- versial issues. There is no reference to any clinical applications, which is disappointing.

Patla presents the neurobiome- chanical basis for human locomotion in the second chapter, which is excellent, with detailed neurophys- iological information not easily accessible in other texts. There are interesting clinical applications such as an explanation of why patients with Parkinson’s disease

Physiotherapy, November 1997, vol83, no 11