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Understanding the Pelvic Floor
210 ~
Amputee Management: A handbook by Pam Barsby, Rosalind Ham, Christine Lumley and Colin Roberts. King’s College School of Medicine and Dentistty, London. Available from Lumley Associates, Brunswick House, Pocklington, York YO4 2QJ. 1995 (ISBN 1 870722 01 9). Illus. 256 pages. f20.
This excellent book evolved from the CSP validated postgraduate course ‘The management of the amputee The physiotherapist’s role’. However, as the authors state, ‘it is written with the understanding t h a t i t will be of value to any member of t h e team working with amputees’. It is divided into 23 chapters. Chapters 1-13 deal with ‘amputation’ and its ‘treatment’, chapters 14 and 15 refer to biomechanics and gait, and chapters 16-23 relate to the prosthetic rehabilitation of amputees. The l a s t chapter, 24, entitled ‘Social and financial considerations’, is a n invaluable list of benefits and allowances, social services assistance schemes, voluntary agencies and specific help groups for amputees. The whole book is very well researched and referenced, and each chapter ends with a set of questions intended to identify the salient points referred to in the text. Despite this scientific researchbased approach, the book is very easily read and each chapter can be considered as a ‘stand alone’ entity. At 220 it makes a n inexpensive yet valuable reference book for those working in this field but can also be used as a good textbook for undergraduates or inexperienced health professionals.
R A Shepherd GradDipPhys MCSP Understanding the Pelvic Floor edited by Jo Laycock and Jean Jacques Wyndaele. Neen HealthBooks, Old Pharmacy Yard, Church Street, Dereham, Norfolk NR19 IDJ, 1994 (ISBN 0 9523723 0 4). Illus. 724 pages. f9.95 plus fl postage and packing.
This book contains the abstracts of papers given by t h e six invited speakers and transcripts of the subsequent discussion sessions a t t h e Pelvic Floor Workshop held prior to the 1993 annual conference of t h e International Continence Society in Rome. The speakers were
Physiotherapy, March 1996, vol82, no 3
~-
Molly Dougherty (USA), J o Laycock (UK), Bernhard Schussler (Switzerland), L Lewis Wall (USA), Barbara Woolner (USA), and J e a n Jacques Wyndaele (Belgium); there are profiles of each of these individuals in section 1of the book. The six abstracts and transcripts of the four discussion sessions form section 2. The abstracts are entitled ‘The anatomy and physiology of the pelvic floor’, ‘The pathophysiology of the pelvic floor’, ‘Investigations of the pelvic floor’, ‘Pelvic floor exercise’, ‘Clinical applications of biofeedback for severe lower urinary tract symptomatology’, and ‘Electrotherapy’. The papers a r e well referenced, but t h e illustrations and figures are of variable quality. All health professionals involved in the treatment and management of incontinence and pelvic floor dysfunction would find this book of value. Its particular attraction stems from the international mix of
the authors and the differences in understanding about aspects of the pelvic floor t h a t are exposed. Thus the reader needs some knowledge to appreciate the nuances. Physiotherapists would find the paper by Molly Dougherty entitled ‘Pelvic floor exercise’ and the subscquent discussion session particularly thought-provoking in this respect. J o Laycock‘s abstract is a neat synthesis of neuromuscular electrical stimulation of the pelvic floor muscles, and also presents preliminary results of a prospective, controlled clinical trial to compare maximum electrical stimulation with trophic stimulation when given in addition to pelvic floor exercise and biofeedback. The successful use of biofeedback with three cases of interstitial cystitis reported in Barbara Woollier’s paper is also of interest.
Clinical Reasoning in the Health Professions
Directions for the future which serves a s a drawing together, as well a s giving indications for the future. Of particular appeal to the reviewer was the fact t h a t the numerous chapters a r e relatively short and succinct. Divided among the above sections according t o subject matter, they enable the book to cover its subject matter in depth, breadth and pertinence. The text appears suitable for those either new to the subject o r more acquainted with it. In terms of the actual health professions dealt with, the text seems to be aimed mainly a t the disciplines of medicine, nursing, occupational therapy and physiotherapy, though other fields are referred to. Those requiring a ‘taster’ of the kind of material included in this book need look no further t h a n a recent paper in this Journal (Higgs and Titchen (1995) ‘The nature, generation and verification of knowledge’, Physiotherapy, 81, 9, 521-530), t h e latter being based on a chapter which appears in the book. This book is recommended to all those involved in gaining a deeper understanding of clinical reasoning, whether in the clinical, educational or research field. Martin J Watson MSc MCSP
edited by Joy Higgs and Mark Jones. Butterworth Heinemann, Oxford, 1995 (ISBN 0 7506 0787 4). 347pages. €30.
The cover blurb to this book states t h a t it ‘explores the nature of clinical reasoning in the health professions and examines strategies for assisting learners, scholars and clinicians to develop their clinical reasoning expertise.’ This statement of intent appears to be amply met, within a volume which comprises 27 chapters, contributed by 36 different authors, many of whom are well known or emerging names in the field. The book is divided into several sections, which cover the following topics: Clinical reasoning dealing with ‘what clinical reasoning is and how it develops’. Clinical reasoning i n the health professions looking a t both how clinical reasoning can be investigated, and how it occurs in several key health professions.
Dimensions of teaching clinical reasoning which discusses t h e teaching of the topic. Approaches to teaching clinical reasoning which consists of various authors’ reflections on their experiences of teaching the topic.
Jill Mantle BA MCSP DipTP
Amputee Management: A handbook by Pam Barsby, Rosalind Ham, Christine Lumley and Colin Roberts. King’s College School of Medicine and Dentistty, London. Available from Lumley Associates, Brunswick House, Pocklington, York YO4 2QJ. 1995 (ISBN 1 870722 01 9). Illus. 256 pages. f20.
This excellent book evolved from the CSP validated postgraduate course ‘The management of the amputee The physiotherapist’s role’. However, as the authors state, ‘it is written with the understanding t h a t i t will be of value to any member of t h e team working with amputees’. It is divided into 23 chapters. Chapters 1-13 deal with ‘amputation’ and its ‘treatment’, chapters 14 and 15 refer to biomechanics and gait, and chapters 16-23 relate to the prosthetic rehabilitation of amputees. The l a s t chapter, 24, entitled ‘Social and financial considerations’, is a n invaluable list of benefits and allowances, social services assistance schemes, voluntary agencies and specific help groups for amputees. The whole book is very well researched and referenced, and each chapter ends with a set of questions intended to identify the salient points referred to in the text. Despite this scientific researchbased approach, the book is very easily read and each chapter can be considered as a ‘stand alone’ entity. At 220 it makes a n inexpensive yet valuable reference book for those working in this field but can also be used as a good textbook for undergraduates or inexperienced health professionals.
R A Shepherd GradDipPhys MCSP Understanding the Pelvic Floor edited by Jo Laycock and Jean Jacques Wyndaele. Neen HealthBooks, Old Pharmacy Yard, Church Street, Dereham, Norfolk NR19 IDJ, 1994 (ISBN 0 9523723 0 4). Illus. 724 pages. f9.95 plus fl postage and packing.
This book contains the abstracts of papers given by t h e six invited speakers and transcripts of the subsequent discussion sessions a t t h e Pelvic Floor Workshop held prior to the 1993 annual conference of t h e International Continence Society in Rome. The speakers were
Physiotherapy, March 1996, vol82, no 3
~-
Molly Dougherty (USA), J o Laycock (UK), Bernhard Schussler (Switzerland), L Lewis Wall (USA), Barbara Woolner (USA), and J e a n Jacques Wyndaele (Belgium); there are profiles of each of these individuals in section 1of the book. The six abstracts and transcripts of the four discussion sessions form section 2. The abstracts are entitled ‘The anatomy and physiology of the pelvic floor’, ‘The pathophysiology of the pelvic floor’, ‘Investigations of the pelvic floor’, ‘Pelvic floor exercise’, ‘Clinical applications of biofeedback for severe lower urinary tract symptomatology’, and ‘Electrotherapy’. The papers a r e well referenced, but t h e illustrations and figures are of variable quality. All health professionals involved in the treatment and management of incontinence and pelvic floor dysfunction would find this book of value. Its particular attraction stems from the international mix of
the authors and the differences in understanding about aspects of the pelvic floor t h a t are exposed. Thus the reader needs some knowledge to appreciate the nuances. Physiotherapists would find the paper by Molly Dougherty entitled ‘Pelvic floor exercise’ and the subscquent discussion session particularly thought-provoking in this respect. J o Laycock‘s abstract is a neat synthesis of neuromuscular electrical stimulation of the pelvic floor muscles, and also presents preliminary results of a prospective, controlled clinical trial to compare maximum electrical stimulation with trophic stimulation when given in addition to pelvic floor exercise and biofeedback. The successful use of biofeedback with three cases of interstitial cystitis reported in Barbara Woollier’s paper is also of interest.
Clinical Reasoning in the Health Professions
Directions for the future which serves a s a drawing together, as well a s giving indications for the future. Of particular appeal to the reviewer was the fact t h a t the numerous chapters a r e relatively short and succinct. Divided among the above sections according t o subject matter, they enable the book to cover its subject matter in depth, breadth and pertinence. The text appears suitable for those either new to the subject o r more acquainted with it. In terms of the actual health professions dealt with, the text seems to be aimed mainly a t the disciplines of medicine, nursing, occupational therapy and physiotherapy, though other fields are referred to. Those requiring a ‘taster’ of the kind of material included in this book need look no further t h a n a recent paper in this Journal (Higgs and Titchen (1995) ‘The nature, generation and verification of knowledge’, Physiotherapy, 81, 9, 521-530), t h e latter being based on a chapter which appears in the book. This book is recommended to all those involved in gaining a deeper understanding of clinical reasoning, whether in the clinical, educational or research field. Martin J Watson MSc MCSP
edited by Joy Higgs and Mark Jones. Butterworth Heinemann, Oxford, 1995 (ISBN 0 7506 0787 4). 347pages. €30.
The cover blurb to this book states t h a t it ‘explores the nature of clinical reasoning in the health professions and examines strategies for assisting learners, scholars and clinicians to develop their clinical reasoning expertise.’ This statement of intent appears to be amply met, within a volume which comprises 27 chapters, contributed by 36 different authors, many of whom are well known or emerging names in the field. The book is divided into several sections, which cover the following topics: Clinical reasoning dealing with ‘what clinical reasoning is and how it develops’. Clinical reasoning i n the health professions looking a t both how clinical reasoning can be investigated, and how it occurs in several key health professions.
Dimensions of teaching clinical reasoning which discusses t h e teaching of the topic. Approaches to teaching clinical reasoning which consists of various authors’ reflections on their experiences of teaching the topic.
Jill Mantle BA MCSP DipTP