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Resistance Training for Health and Rehabilitation
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Book reviews Resistance Training for Health and Rehabilitation Human Kinetics, Leeds 2001 (ISBN 0 7360 0178 6). 432 pages edited by James E Graves and Barry A Franklin £32 The main purpose of this book is to provide a single source of information on resistance training for fitness, disease prevention and rehabilitation. One of the editors is an exercise scientist and the other a professor of medicine. The book includes contributions from many other specialists in the field, but few from physiotherapists. It provides guidelines on the benefits, rationale, safety and prescription of resistance training and also takes into account its application in varied populations with physical disabilities, diseases and conditions. The book is intended for physicians, physical and occupational therapists, rehabilitation specialists and exercise professionals who prescribe resistance training. It is well organised and split into four main sections, with specific chapters within these sections: ■ The first section gives a good background basis to resistance training covering the physiological effects of resistance training, long-term adherence and the effects on healthy adults. ■ The second section discuses resistance training in specific populations and conditions, such as women, the aging population, weight control and musculoskeletal injury. Though the content of the chapter on musculoskeletal injury is quite basic for physiotherapists, and gives just a general overview, it adequately discusses risk factors associated with resistance training, types of injuries and prevention. ■ The third section covers resistance training in chronic visceral diseases, such as coronary heart disease, organ transplant recipients, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, hypertension and stroke patients. It discusses the evidence for the safe prescription of resistance training in these patient groups. ■ The fourth section addresses resistance training for chronic physical disabilities, such as arthritis and related musculoskeletal disorders, prevention of osteoporosis, lower back pain, and persons with physical disabilities, including neurological disorders. Again the authors discuss the evidence for resistance training in these disorders. However, at times the lack of input from physiotherapists is apparent. The chapter on resistance
training for lower back pain and dysfunction touches briefly on the role of transversus abdominus and multifidus in lumbar stability, but the majority of the chapter is devoted to lumbar extensor strengthening and does not discuss in much detail muscle imbalance or core stability theories. Also, the section on neurological disorders does not discuss proximal control or stability with regard to weight training. However, one must bear in mind that the book is not intended to cover comprehensively all aspects of rehabilitation, as its main emphasis is on the appropriate application of resistance training. In general the chapters are well written and backed up with relevant research. As each chapter is quite comprehensive with references listed at the end, a reader can pick up a chapter and not have to refer back to previous chapters, thus making it easy to use. The authors make some good use of tables to compare research studies, but some of the chapters are terminology heavy, and the authors discuss some complex theories, but do not use diagrams to enhance understanding, which makes some points difficult to follow and occasionally makes it hard to read. This book provides a good resource for those new to resistance training. However, if any clinicians are looking to increase their knowledge of specific weight training techniques or programmes, this may not be what they are looking for. It would be very useful for physiotherapy undergraduate students and newly qualified physiotherapists as it gives basic exercise prescription guidelines, eg gravity assisted through to weight resisted exercise progression, and discusses the optimum frequency and intensity that programmes should be set at. It would also help therapists to think about the wide variety of adaptations and tools that can be used for resistance training. In summary this book would be very useful to students, and physiotherapists who are not familiar or confident with resistance training principles and applications. It illustrates the benefits of using resistance training in the management of specific diseases and conditions and in a prophylactic manner, which would increase the exercise prescription tools of a clinician. This book represents good value for money considering the extensive review of literature and contributions from many experts in the field of exercise physiology. I would recommend it as a useful addition to a physiotherapy department and postgraduate library. Jean Denton MCSP
Physiotherapy January 2003/vol 89/no 1
Book reviews Resistance Training for Health and Rehabilitation Human Kinetics, Leeds 2001 (ISBN 0 7360 0178 6). 432 pages edited by James E Graves and Barry A Franklin £32 The main purpose of this book is to provide a single source of information on resistance training for fitness, disease prevention and rehabilitation. One of the editors is an exercise scientist and the other a professor of medicine. The book includes contributions from many other specialists in the field, but few from physiotherapists. It provides guidelines on the benefits, rationale, safety and prescription of resistance training and also takes into account its application in varied populations with physical disabilities, diseases and conditions. The book is intended for physicians, physical and occupational therapists, rehabilitation specialists and exercise professionals who prescribe resistance training. It is well organised and split into four main sections, with specific chapters within these sections: ■ The first section gives a good background basis to resistance training covering the physiological effects of resistance training, long-term adherence and the effects on healthy adults. ■ The second section discuses resistance training in specific populations and conditions, such as women, the aging population, weight control and musculoskeletal injury. Though the content of the chapter on musculoskeletal injury is quite basic for physiotherapists, and gives just a general overview, it adequately discusses risk factors associated with resistance training, types of injuries and prevention. ■ The third section covers resistance training in chronic visceral diseases, such as coronary heart disease, organ transplant recipients, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, hypertension and stroke patients. It discusses the evidence for the safe prescription of resistance training in these patient groups. ■ The fourth section addresses resistance training for chronic physical disabilities, such as arthritis and related musculoskeletal disorders, prevention of osteoporosis, lower back pain, and persons with physical disabilities, including neurological disorders. Again the authors discuss the evidence for resistance training in these disorders. However, at times the lack of input from physiotherapists is apparent. The chapter on resistance
training for lower back pain and dysfunction touches briefly on the role of transversus abdominus and multifidus in lumbar stability, but the majority of the chapter is devoted to lumbar extensor strengthening and does not discuss in much detail muscle imbalance or core stability theories. Also, the section on neurological disorders does not discuss proximal control or stability with regard to weight training. However, one must bear in mind that the book is not intended to cover comprehensively all aspects of rehabilitation, as its main emphasis is on the appropriate application of resistance training. In general the chapters are well written and backed up with relevant research. As each chapter is quite comprehensive with references listed at the end, a reader can pick up a chapter and not have to refer back to previous chapters, thus making it easy to use. The authors make some good use of tables to compare research studies, but some of the chapters are terminology heavy, and the authors discuss some complex theories, but do not use diagrams to enhance understanding, which makes some points difficult to follow and occasionally makes it hard to read. This book provides a good resource for those new to resistance training. However, if any clinicians are looking to increase their knowledge of specific weight training techniques or programmes, this may not be what they are looking for. It would be very useful for physiotherapy undergraduate students and newly qualified physiotherapists as it gives basic exercise prescription guidelines, eg gravity assisted through to weight resisted exercise progression, and discusses the optimum frequency and intensity that programmes should be set at. It would also help therapists to think about the wide variety of adaptations and tools that can be used for resistance training. In summary this book would be very useful to students, and physiotherapists who are not familiar or confident with resistance training principles and applications. It illustrates the benefits of using resistance training in the management of specific diseases and conditions and in a prophylactic manner, which would increase the exercise prescription tools of a clinician. This book represents good value for money considering the extensive review of literature and contributions from many experts in the field of exercise physiology. I would recommend it as a useful addition to a physiotherapy department and postgraduate library. Jean Denton MCSP
Physiotherapy January 2003/vol 89/no 1