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Exercise for Healthy Ageing
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Neuromechanical Basis of Kinesiology
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This is a textbook on kinesiology for undergraduate students. Its goal is t o examine t h e neuromechanical basis of kinesiology, based on the philosophy that movement involves a n interaction between a n animal and its surroundings. The stated aims a r e to reach a broad audience of students involved in the study of movement, to introduce current concepts and thinking, t o include a comprehensive and contemporary reference list, and to provide extensive graphical illustrations to elucidate the text. The book is organised in three sections - the force motion relationship, t h e single joint system, and t h e adaptability of t h e motor systcm. There a r e clear objectives for each section, and a concise summary and extensive selection of true/false and problem based questions a t t h e end of each chapter (the answers to which a r e included in the appendix). The first section, which examines the mechanical basis of movement, includes chapters on motion (regarding position, velocity and acceleration), force (based on Ncwtoniaii laws, considering t h e various forces acting on t h e body, and introducing t h e concept of torque and of free body diagrams to
simplify movement analysis) and movement analysis (considering the instantaneous value of force, the effect of force applied over time, and the application of force causing a n object to be displaced). Section 2 is based around a biological model called the singzgle joint system, which consists of five elements, namely a rigid link, synovial joint, muscle, neurone and sensory receptor. A description and discussion of these five elements comprises the first chapter in this section, which emphasises t h e adaptability of these components to provide a dynamic system with continually changing properties. The second chapter describes how these five elements of the single joint system interact to produce movement, exploring t h e roles of t h e motor unit, excitability of membranes, excitatiodcontraction coupling and feedback from sensory receptors. The final chapter in this section examines the factors which influence the development of muscle torque within the single joint system, and considers neural, mechanical, anatomical and physiological factors. The final section examines the adaptability of the motor system, and extends the single joint system model to provide a more complete account of those components t h a t are directly involved in t h e performance of movement. The first chapter explores neural control of
movement, the effect of demand on output, and neural strategies for control in goal-directed functional activities. The next two chapters examine t h e acute and chronic adaptations of the neuromuscular system to physical activity, the latter including adaptations associated with immobility and ageing. The book concludes with a comprehensive collection of appendices on SI units, basic mathematics, conversion factors, body segment parameters, abbreviations, problem answers, a glossary of terms, and finally a n extensive reference list. This is a n excellent book, well organised, clearly written and the text is complemented lavishly with graphical illustrations. It is a demanding text, in t h a t one would not dip into it lightly, but the concepts are clearly explained with illustrations and examples to assist comprehension. It is a substantial text (A4 size and 466 pages) with a pleasant script and layout (and some wonderful diagrams from the work of Giovanni Borelli), and I would thoroughly recommend it as a prescribed reference text for physiotherapy students. For the serious student of movement (and not purely in t h e academic sense) this book is a must - quite the best kinesiology text I have ever encountered.
Exercise for Healthy Ageing
posture is also stressed.
by Dawn Skelton. Published by and available from Research into Ageing, Baird House, 15/17 St Cross Street, London ECIN 8UN, 1994. Illus. 32 pages. Donation of €3 welcomed.
The heart of this publication is the programme of exercises -beginners, intermediate and advanced. Each section is boldly announced and contains approximately eight exercises with lucid diagrams. The routines are simple and many can be performed sitting down; they are easy to follow and numerically graded. It is a user-friendly volume, spiral bound, very readable with bold type for emphasis, and intelligible.
page would be an improvement. I would like to have seen, integrated within the programmes, breathing exercises combined with relaxation techniques. Although I would suggest minor changes and inclusions, this is a perspicacious and thoughtful book, in my opinion one of great value to the increasingly elderly populace, either in a class situation or for the housebound. Exercise for Healthy Ageing was devised by Dawn Skelton (who was a PhD student a t t h e Royal Free Hospital) a s a n offshoot from her research project into establishing normal ranges of activity for healthy elderly people.
by Roger M Enoka. Human Kinetics (Europe) Ltd, Leeds, 1994 (ISBN 0 87322 665 8) (2nd edn). Illus. 466 pages. €40.
The entertaining caricature cover of this book (illustrated by Matthew Mills) belies its serious and sensible tenet, t h a t staying active means staying independent. Before embarking on the clearly illustrated exercise programmes, t h e introductory chapters cover simple statistical reasons for exercise, sound advice and straightforward guidelines to follow. The onus is on the participant engaging in gentle, safe, slow and steady exercise with a gradual progression after several weeks. The importance of warming up/cooling down along with good
Physiotherapy, May 1996, vol82, no 5
The general format is good, but thicker paper and possibly a bolder type throughout would benefit elderly readers. The illustrations are clear, though rather textbookish in style. Perhaps colour and a maximum of two diagrams per
Kate Kerr PhD BA MCSP
Caroline Brooks GradDipPhys MCSP
Neuromechanical Basis of Kinesiology
~
~
~
This is a textbook on kinesiology for undergraduate students. Its goal is t o examine t h e neuromechanical basis of kinesiology, based on the philosophy that movement involves a n interaction between a n animal and its surroundings. The stated aims a r e to reach a broad audience of students involved in the study of movement, to introduce current concepts and thinking, t o include a comprehensive and contemporary reference list, and to provide extensive graphical illustrations to elucidate the text. The book is organised in three sections - the force motion relationship, t h e single joint system, and t h e adaptability of t h e motor systcm. There a r e clear objectives for each section, and a concise summary and extensive selection of true/false and problem based questions a t t h e end of each chapter (the answers to which a r e included in the appendix). The first section, which examines the mechanical basis of movement, includes chapters on motion (regarding position, velocity and acceleration), force (based on Ncwtoniaii laws, considering t h e various forces acting on t h e body, and introducing t h e concept of torque and of free body diagrams to
simplify movement analysis) and movement analysis (considering the instantaneous value of force, the effect of force applied over time, and the application of force causing a n object to be displaced). Section 2 is based around a biological model called the singzgle joint system, which consists of five elements, namely a rigid link, synovial joint, muscle, neurone and sensory receptor. A description and discussion of these five elements comprises the first chapter in this section, which emphasises t h e adaptability of these components to provide a dynamic system with continually changing properties. The second chapter describes how these five elements of the single joint system interact to produce movement, exploring t h e roles of t h e motor unit, excitability of membranes, excitatiodcontraction coupling and feedback from sensory receptors. The final chapter in this section examines the factors which influence the development of muscle torque within the single joint system, and considers neural, mechanical, anatomical and physiological factors. The final section examines the adaptability of the motor system, and extends the single joint system model to provide a more complete account of those components t h a t are directly involved in t h e performance of movement. The first chapter explores neural control of
movement, the effect of demand on output, and neural strategies for control in goal-directed functional activities. The next two chapters examine t h e acute and chronic adaptations of the neuromuscular system to physical activity, the latter including adaptations associated with immobility and ageing. The book concludes with a comprehensive collection of appendices on SI units, basic mathematics, conversion factors, body segment parameters, abbreviations, problem answers, a glossary of terms, and finally a n extensive reference list. This is a n excellent book, well organised, clearly written and the text is complemented lavishly with graphical illustrations. It is a demanding text, in t h a t one would not dip into it lightly, but the concepts are clearly explained with illustrations and examples to assist comprehension. It is a substantial text (A4 size and 466 pages) with a pleasant script and layout (and some wonderful diagrams from the work of Giovanni Borelli), and I would thoroughly recommend it as a prescribed reference text for physiotherapy students. For the serious student of movement (and not purely in t h e academic sense) this book is a must - quite the best kinesiology text I have ever encountered.
Exercise for Healthy Ageing
posture is also stressed.
by Dawn Skelton. Published by and available from Research into Ageing, Baird House, 15/17 St Cross Street, London ECIN 8UN, 1994. Illus. 32 pages. Donation of €3 welcomed.
The heart of this publication is the programme of exercises -beginners, intermediate and advanced. Each section is boldly announced and contains approximately eight exercises with lucid diagrams. The routines are simple and many can be performed sitting down; they are easy to follow and numerically graded. It is a user-friendly volume, spiral bound, very readable with bold type for emphasis, and intelligible.
page would be an improvement. I would like to have seen, integrated within the programmes, breathing exercises combined with relaxation techniques. Although I would suggest minor changes and inclusions, this is a perspicacious and thoughtful book, in my opinion one of great value to the increasingly elderly populace, either in a class situation or for the housebound. Exercise for Healthy Ageing was devised by Dawn Skelton (who was a PhD student a t t h e Royal Free Hospital) a s a n offshoot from her research project into establishing normal ranges of activity for healthy elderly people.
by Roger M Enoka. Human Kinetics (Europe) Ltd, Leeds, 1994 (ISBN 0 87322 665 8) (2nd edn). Illus. 466 pages. €40.
The entertaining caricature cover of this book (illustrated by Matthew Mills) belies its serious and sensible tenet, t h a t staying active means staying independent. Before embarking on the clearly illustrated exercise programmes, t h e introductory chapters cover simple statistical reasons for exercise, sound advice and straightforward guidelines to follow. The onus is on the participant engaging in gentle, safe, slow and steady exercise with a gradual progression after several weeks. The importance of warming up/cooling down along with good
Physiotherapy, May 1996, vol82, no 5
The general format is good, but thicker paper and possibly a bolder type throughout would benefit elderly readers. The illustrations are clear, though rather textbookish in style. Perhaps colour and a maximum of two diagrams per
Kate Kerr PhD BA MCSP
Caroline Brooks GradDipPhys MCSP