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Hydrotherapy in Practice
Menopause - The Woman's View, by Anne Dickson and Nikki Henriques. Thorsons, Wellingborough, 1987 (ISBN 0 7225 1425 5). 112 pages. €4.99. The opening of this book serves t o remind all women that although the menopause is as old as womankind, until the late 19th century not many women lived long enough to experience it, and (hopefully) to enjoy life after it. The authors admit t o being nonmedical and not menopausal. The book says it offers (a) what happens (b) why it happens (c) what you (the menopausal woman) can do about it. The menopause is said t o generate severe problems in 509/0 of women, 25% have some problems and 25% sail through with minimal problems. The authors use a panel of women of varying ages and backgrounds to comment on this female rite of passage. The reader can learn through these commentators of the great variance in both biological and emotional symptoms, and of the difficulty often experienced by sufferers in communicating with their doctors or members of their family for help. The process of the menopause is covered in a fair amount of detail. A great deal is written about the pros and cons of hormone replacement therapy, and also the alleviation of symptoms using homoeopathy or herbal medicine. Self-help is advocated through relaxation, diet, group therapy, exercise, skin care and so on. Although the book is not a medical one, it would be a useful adjunct to any factual reportage of the menopause. It might give valuable insight to younger physiotherapists treating patients in the menopausal age group. It could also be suggested that men and managers would benefit from reading this book to help them understand some of the ways in which women experience the menopause. ANNE W BIRD BA MCSP Hydrotherapy in Practice, by Bridget C Davies GradDipPhys MCSP HT and Ronald A Harrison GradDipPhys MCSP HT. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh, 1988 (ISBN 0 443 03062 6). Illus. 183 pages. €12.95. This book is a welcome addition to the alltoo-sparse literature on hydrotherapy. Both authors are experienced hydrotherapists and are well qualified to write on the subject. The first three chapters deal with the management, equipping and design of a pool and should give physiotherapists sufficient knowledge to discuss needs and problems with architects and engineers, though I was sorry to note that built-in footbaths were still being advocated. The next section outlines the physical principles involved and the physiological effects of pool therapy. The following 9 5 pages are devoted to treatment techniques and their application to specific conditions, and the book closes with a brief description of techniques originating from spas. Conventional and Bad Ragaz techniques are clearly described and supported by numerous photographs but the section relating to standing balance and activities is liable to cause confusion. A surprising omission is any account of the Halliwick method which would have helped those seeking an all-round picture. Despite these minor criticisms this well referenced book can confidently be
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recommended to the student physiotherapists, practising hydrotherapists and managers for whom it was written, and should be included in physiotherapy school libraries and in all departments with a pool. ISABEL N FRANCIS MSc MCSP HT DipTP
Musculoskeletal Manipulation: Evaluation of the scientific evidence, by J S Tobis MD and F Hoehler PhD. Thomas, Springfield, USA, 1986 (ISBN0 398 051 984). 92 pages. Illus. $19.75. The purpose of this short book is to evaluate the effects and possible benefits of spinal manipulation by a review of the research literature. The authors are professor and assistant clinical professor at the department of physical medicine and rehabilitation, University of California. The text starts with a condensed history of the origins of spinal manipulation, possible causes of pain with accompanying classifications, and brief descriptions of manipulative techniques employed by various clinicians. The authors go on t o review the existing literature on clinical trials involving manipulative techniques. In one chapter this literature is used t o demonstrate the existing difficulties in designing a study which gives any clear clinical evidence, yet in the next chapter an attempt is made t o compare results from a wide variety of essentially different clinical trials. Worthwhile guide lines are offered for those involved in this area of research, and the book contains an extensive reference list on the subject of manipulation, but the range of the text is rather too wide to provide adequate information about any one of its parts in a few pages. This book would be appropriate for reference libraries and may be of interest to those directly concerned with clinical research in manipulative therapy. KATE SHEEHY MCSP
1987 Year Book of Pulmonary Disease, edited by Gareth M Green MD. Wolfe Medical Publications, London, 1987 (ISBN 0 8151 3921 7). 368 pages. €35.50. This book contains reviews of respiratory literature up to October 1986; and 58 journals are represented. It is organised into eight areas with reviews by associate editors with a special interest in that area. After each review, the editor gives a critical appraisal of the literature. The areas covered are respiratory function and structure, bronchial asthma, pulmonary vascular disease and critical care, occupational lung disease, chronic obstructive airways disease (COAD), interstitial lung disease, lung cancer, and pleural effusions and pulmonary infections. The section on bronchial asthma is both of interest and value. It is divided into three parts: clinical syndromes, pathogenesis and treatment. Environmental factors, such as the effect of odours, are explored and Dr Peters makes realistic comments about the articles reviewed. There is a fascinating study on the effect of yoga which appears to compare favourably with the more conventional therapies. COAD reviewed by Dr Menkes, is also divided into three sections: papers discussing the relationship between risk factors and COAD, pathophysiology and treatment. I found the papers on pulmonary infections particularly interesting, especially the discussion on nosocomial infection in the hospital by Dr Green and the action of cilia at sites of purulent infection. It is perhaps worth noting that, when consulting the index, restrictive lung disease such as pulmonary fibrosis has to be found under causes. There is a great deal of space devoted to the effects of environmental tobacco smoke but, as a year book, it is bound to recognise topical concerns in pulmonary medicine. This is not a book for a physiotherapy department but well suited to a hospital library, especially one that offers limited access to journals, so that it will be available to all concerned with medical chest conditions. FRANCES WRIGHT MCSP
The straight-leg-raising test with pain as the endpoint - from 'Musculoskeletal Manipulation'
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physiotherapy, August 1988, vol74, no 8
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408
recommended to the student physiotherapists, practising hydrotherapists and managers for whom it was written, and should be included in physiotherapy school libraries and in all departments with a pool. ISABEL N FRANCIS MSc MCSP HT DipTP
Musculoskeletal Manipulation: Evaluation of the scientific evidence, by J S Tobis MD and F Hoehler PhD. Thomas, Springfield, USA, 1986 (ISBN0 398 051 984). 92 pages. Illus. $19.75. The purpose of this short book is to evaluate the effects and possible benefits of spinal manipulation by a review of the research literature. The authors are professor and assistant clinical professor at the department of physical medicine and rehabilitation, University of California. The text starts with a condensed history of the origins of spinal manipulation, possible causes of pain with accompanying classifications, and brief descriptions of manipulative techniques employed by various clinicians. The authors go on t o review the existing literature on clinical trials involving manipulative techniques. In one chapter this literature is used t o demonstrate the existing difficulties in designing a study which gives any clear clinical evidence, yet in the next chapter an attempt is made t o compare results from a wide variety of essentially different clinical trials. Worthwhile guide lines are offered for those involved in this area of research, and the book contains an extensive reference list on the subject of manipulation, but the range of the text is rather too wide to provide adequate information about any one of its parts in a few pages. This book would be appropriate for reference libraries and may be of interest to those directly concerned with clinical research in manipulative therapy. KATE SHEEHY MCSP
1987 Year Book of Pulmonary Disease, edited by Gareth M Green MD. Wolfe Medical Publications, London, 1987 (ISBN 0 8151 3921 7). 368 pages. €35.50. This book contains reviews of respiratory literature up to October 1986; and 58 journals are represented. It is organised into eight areas with reviews by associate editors with a special interest in that area. After each review, the editor gives a critical appraisal of the literature. The areas covered are respiratory function and structure, bronchial asthma, pulmonary vascular disease and critical care, occupational lung disease, chronic obstructive airways disease (COAD), interstitial lung disease, lung cancer, and pleural effusions and pulmonary infections. The section on bronchial asthma is both of interest and value. It is divided into three parts: clinical syndromes, pathogenesis and treatment. Environmental factors, such as the effect of odours, are explored and Dr Peters makes realistic comments about the articles reviewed. There is a fascinating study on the effect of yoga which appears to compare favourably with the more conventional therapies. COAD reviewed by Dr Menkes, is also divided into three sections: papers discussing the relationship between risk factors and COAD, pathophysiology and treatment. I found the papers on pulmonary infections particularly interesting, especially the discussion on nosocomial infection in the hospital by Dr Green and the action of cilia at sites of purulent infection. It is perhaps worth noting that, when consulting the index, restrictive lung disease such as pulmonary fibrosis has to be found under causes. There is a great deal of space devoted to the effects of environmental tobacco smoke but, as a year book, it is bound to recognise topical concerns in pulmonary medicine. This is not a book for a physiotherapy department but well suited to a hospital library, especially one that offers limited access to journals, so that it will be available to all concerned with medical chest conditions. FRANCES WRIGHT MCSP
The straight-leg-raising test with pain as the endpoint - from 'Musculoskeletal Manipulation'
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physiotherapy, August 1988, vol74, no 8