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Summary: Every Serious Athlete Should have this Book in their Library
Review: Dr. Garrick's book reads like an office consultation with this highly qualified and experienced orthopedic surgeon; it is clear, straightforward and informative. For twenty years he has dealt with the abuses and insults I've heaped on my 58-year-old body during mountain climbing excursions, wilderness skiing, backpacking, foot races, ocean kayaking, and heavy back yard work. Each time I limped into his Sports Medicine Center at Bush and Hyde Streets in San Francisco, complaining about plantar fascitis, neck pain, or my latest nemesis, a torn medial meniscus, he convinced me to follow a regimen of strengthening exercises over a period of weeks instead of recommending surgery right off the bat. Sometimes it worked, other times surgery was necessary. Jim's book is a valuable resource for any athlete, professional or otherwise. It is organized in such a way that it explains the body parts in detail and what can go wrong with them. If you are like me, you want to know just what a medial meniscus is, how it functions, and why it went south on you. Sidebars on the first page of each chapter warn you to see a doctor if any of the listed symptoms are present. Just as likely, the book may steer you along your own path to recovery. If you are a serious athlete, you should have this book in your library.
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Summary: Not the best choice
Review: I bought this book after incurring a sports injury. Although it has some useful information, I found Micheli's Sports Medicine Bible to be far superior - more depth and better information.
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Summary: An overview, but not a complete guide
Review: I used this book as a guide to recovering from patellofemoral pain syndrome, a very common, but very difficult and debilitating problem. What I found is that the book's recommendation to strengthen the vastus medialus and stretch the quadriceps group is fine as far as it goes. But for many sufferers it will not go far enough. Many doctors feel that any or all of the muscles in the leg, from the hips to the ankles, may need strengthening/and or stretching to overcome this syndrome. If you do work on your vastus medialus (which practically every doctor recommends, it's just that other muscles may be involved), follow the author's suggestion to use an electic muscle stimulator. It builds the muscle much faster than any other form of isometric exercse. Muscle stimulators are now sold on the net. If this doesn't cure your knee problems, don't despair. Find a more comprehensive (but not necessarily more stressful) exercise program.
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Summary: How to Play with Your Injuries
Review: This book gives excellent information and advice on how to live with your injuries and continue to enjoy your favorite sports. It gives blunt information on the benefits of surgery for different conditions--pro and con. Garrick's credentials show his ability to get injured athletes (professionals as well as weekend warriors) back onto the playing field as quickly as possible. He also gives advice on sport-specific prevention of injuries--strengthening excerises and playing techniques. Besides a copy for myself (an aging tennis player), I am buying one for my son who does extreme snowboarding and biking and spends much time in emergency rooms!
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