Positive Health Online

Stability, Sport and Performance Movement is written by Joanne Elphinston, who herself is a Performance Consultant, international lecturer and physiotherapist, and works with elite and professional athletes to Olympic, Commonwealth and World Championship medal standards. Her sub title in my opinion aptly sums up the overall subject matter of the book "Great Technique without injury".

The book itself is attractive in appearance and therefore should have little problem in being picked off the shelf for that initial browse. But don\'t be misled by the well designed cover, this is only a taste of what\'s to come.

My initial reaction was whether this is a book for the experienced therapist or trainer and not for the beginner, or someone who would like a book which enhances their knowledge but can also be used by the student in their studies. That is far from the truth, and I would have no hesitation in recommending this for both the experienced and the student.

The book could have been far more complex in its approach, and the fitness therapist or sports coach could have been mislead into thinking the book (from the title) is going to be dry and complicated in its methodology. Nothing could be further from fact. From start to finish everything is explained in an easy to understand technique.

The first chapter is on stability and functional stability; reading through you find a colour box explaining in simple to understand terminology the Pillars of functional ability and leading on to how functional stability can influence movement. The inexperienced therapist or trainer may now be starting to worry, but the subject is tied down with excellent descriptions, diagrams and drawings which guide the reader through with an effortless step by step approach. At this stage, I was looking cheerfully to reading the rest of the book and hoping it would not fall at a more complex hurdle in its definitions or explanations. No need to worry; it just became more interesting and informative, and the simple educational approach never wavered.

I have to add that the colour coding throughout the book is useful, and it is so easy to flick through the pages and pick up areas where further explanation may be needed via the use of the colour boxes.

The therapist or trainer reads a chapter and needs to reflect on the pertinent points. They need only go to the \'lavender\' coloured boxes and find the information. Some are titled key concepts and others tie in the subject matter; but just look for the colour. You need to summarize the chapter or programme, then look for the peach coloured boxes and you won\\\\\\\'t be disappointed. This system follows through from beginning to end, sometimes at the end of the chapter and sometimes following the subject matter itself.

Notes from the clipboard – mini case studies are very useful and informative, and give clarity and substance to the specifics of the exercise or injury risk. These are again within the chapters, but at the end of the book there is some very good in depth information with treatment pathways and approaches which the reader should find of particular help and assistance.

The diagrams of the exercises throughout the book are very well presented and simple to follow, whether they are corrective or protective based and supported by observation notes at the end of each movement.

My main interest was the very informative sports-specific information given which leads you from a discussion on the common ailments and complaints that can be found relating to a particular sport to priority testing and priority exercises which are broken down into phases.

We finally arrive at a list of common patterns summarizing the directional relationship between overactive and underactive muscle groups, which is followed by a most useful set of basic Functional Assessment Charts, which I am sure the coach or therapist will find most useful when assessing their client\'s.

Summing up, I felt this would be a very important and useful book for the therapist or trainer to have on their bookshelf. A book which would end up being well thumbed with use and earning its place with the experienced, the beginner and the student.