Front matter
Sports Injuries
Commissioning Editor: Claire Wilson
Development Editors: Barbara Simmons, Wendy Lee
Project Manager: Frances Affleck
Text Design: Sarah Russell
Cover Design: Stewart Larking
Illustration Manager: Merlyn Harvey
Illustrator: Cactus
Sports Injuries
A Unique Guide to Self-diagnosis and Rehabilitation
3rd Edition
Dr Malcolm Read Former Olympic team doctor and Olympic competitor
with
Paul Wade Sports journalist
Copyright
Volume copyright Breslich & Foss Ltd 1984, 1996
Text copyright Malcolm Read and Paul Wade 1984, 1996
Illustrations copyright Breslich & Foss Ltd 1984, 1996
No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Permissions may be sought directly from Elseviers Rights Department: phone: (+1) 215 239 3804 (US) or (+44) 1865 843830 (UK); fax: (+44) 1865 853333; e-mail: .
First published by Breslich & Foss Ltd 1984
Second edition 1997
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
A catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress
Notice
Knowledge and best practice in this field are constantly changing. As new research and experience broaden our knowledge, changes in practice, treatment and drug therapy may become necessary or appropriate. Readers are advised to check the most current information provided (i) on procedures featured or (ii) by the manufacturer of each product to be administered, to verify the recommended dose or formula, the method and duration of administration, and contraindications. It is the responsibility of the practitioner, relying on their own experience and knowledge of the patient, to make diagnoses, to determine dosages and the best treatment for each individual patient, and to take all appropriate safety precautions. To the fullest extent of the law, neither the Publisher nor the Authors assumes any liability for any injury and/or damage to persons or property arising out or related to any use of the material contained in this book.
The Publisher
Printed in China
How to get the most out of this book
Sport or exercise? Exercise or sport? If you participate in sports, you already know the benefits both physical and mental of exercise. And, whether you are a competitor or just a weekend enthusiast, you know that injuries can occur from time to time.
Perhaps you are one of those who never enjoyed sports. Instead, you might be a member of a gym or health club, running on a treadmill and rowing on a machine. You might never go running in the park or rowing on a lake, let alone enter a competition, but you are still exercising. And you can still succumb to sports injuries.
This book is for everyone who exercises, from beginners to international athletes. Many problems from aches and pains to strains and injuries are caused
by poor technique. Or by doing too much in one go. It is important to remember that the better you get at any sport, the more you need to increase your body's strength to handle the additional stress.
There is a huge range of sports injuries. Some are serious enough to require medical attention and specialist treatment; others are relatively minor and respond to simple home care. It is important to recognize the difference.
Dr Malcolm Read, a former Olympic competitor and medical adviser to the British Olympic association, has seen sports medicine make great advances in recent years. His knowledge and experience are crammed into this small book. Easy to read, with straightforward advice and helpful diagrams, it is designed to keep in your sports bag.
CHAPTER 1: How to avoid injuries in the first place
Dr Read advises you on how to prepare properly in order to avoid injury. He also gives useful tips, from dealing with jet lag to first-aid kits.
CHAPTER 2: Guide to treatments
A handy AZ of treatments and common ailments, from acupuncture to wobble boards.
CHAPTER 3: Top-to-toe guide to injuries
Dr Read's simple-to-follow self-diagnosis techniques have helped thousands of readers over the years. Use the simple tests, with clear illustrations, to ascertain whether you have tennis wrist, paddler's wrist or handstand wrist. Then read on to learn what produced it, what the likely medical treatments are and how to help yourself.
CHAPTER 4: How to recover from an injury
Nothing is more frustrating than sitting on the sidelines, watching instead of participating. Dr Read's unique training ladders help you to recover as quickly and as safely as possible.
CHAPTER 5: Sport-by-sport guide to technical injuries
Each sport and each form of exercise has its own specific stresses that can lead to injury. Dr Read explains what they are, so that you can prevent injuries.
CHAPTER 6: AZ of medical terms
Medical terms can be confusing to the lay person. This chapter contains a useful glossary of the most common.
About the authors
Malcolm T F Read
MA, MB, BChir, MRCGP, DRCOG, DM-SMed, FISM, FFSEM (Irl), FFSEM (UK)
A sports enthusiast as well as a sports injuries expert, Dr Malcolm Read was an international (field) hockey player, who represented Great Britain at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico. Later, he specialised in sports medicine, where he advised a wide range of sports, and returned to the Olympic arena as the team doctor helping all the Olympic sports.
Throughout his career, he has helped World and Olympic champions to achieve their ambitions and fulfil their potential. At the same time, he has encouraged amateur enthusiasts to keep fit and have fun. That is why, back in 1982, he wanted to write a book that would be understood by all even if they had no medical training. At one stage it was reputedly the most stolen book from the British Sports Council Library.
