Traumatic Brain Injury, edited by Paul Bach- y-Rita MD. Comprehensive Neurologic Rehabilitation vol 2. Demos Publications, New York, 1989 (ISBN 0 939957 18 3). Illus. 331 pages.

Paul Bach-y-Rita, the editor of this book, states that it is an essential reference for all health care professionals involved in head injury management, and I emphatically agree with him.

The book is clearly laid out and divided into five main sections: patient management issues, neuropsychological and behavioural issues, neural recovery, rehabilitation issues, and community integration issues.

Each section is sub-divided into chapters, which are concisely summarised at the end of each, followed by an extensive list of references.

Although the book is somewhat 'American', using the US care system as a model, it is very readable and gives an excellent holistic overview of the impairment that can arise from head injuries. It deals with problems from the initial insult right through to re-integration back into the com- munity, which should, whenever possible, be the ultimate goal of rehabilitation.

The book emphasises throughout the need for further research into all areas of brain injury, and considering the current changes taking place in our own health service this is a call we all need to heed.

This book would be a useful addition to any department or rehabilitation unit dealing with a number of head injuries, not for any particular treatment ideas, but for its holistic approach to management of what can be a very complex, wide ranging and challenging field.

CHERRY KlLBRlDE GradDipPhys MCSP

Developmental Movement for Children: Mainstream, special needs and pre-school, by Veronica Sherborne. Cambridge University Press, 1990 (ISBN hardback 0 521 37006 X, paperback 0 521 37903 2). Illus. 121 pages. f12.95 hardback, f6.95 paperback.

This is a stimulating, thought-provoking book brought to life by the excellent choice of action photographs that highlight the activities described in the text.

The author has combined the theories of Rudolf Laban's analysis of human movement with more than thirty years of dedicated experiences with people with learning difficulties. She has skilfully introduced the book with practical activities meaningful for therapists, carers, parents and teachers. She is acutely aware of the importance of the needs of children and adults w i t h learning difficulties to experience an awareness of their own bodies and others by contact, support and movement. The author describes the links of these experiences with emotional and behavioural security and stability.

After wetting the reader's appetite, she continues to expand on the underlying

theory and the assessment, through observation and feeling, which helps to identify the children's specific needs. The book acts as a manual of activities for use by those with a movement background and helps the reader in planning programmes of activities for use in homes, schools and clinics.

It will be of value for teachers and therapists having to plan integrated movement sessions in children's curricula activities both in mainstream and special schools.

JENNY FRENCH BA MCSP

The Diagnosis and Management of Paediatric Respiratory Disease, by Robert Dinwiddie. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh, 1990 (ISBN 0 443 02744 7). Illus. 312 pages. €24.95.

The book is designed to give a basic overview of the respiratory system and the most frequently encountered diseases during the paediatric years.

It is aimed primarily at those who have recently entered the field of paediatrics and would be of interest to those who regularly deal with children with respiratory disorders within the hospital environment. The text is clearly and concisely presented and is accompanied by some excellent line diagrams, photographs and, most especially, X-ray views.

The opening chapters deal with the subjects of the development of the lungs and the physiology of breathing. Ensuing chapters cover various respiratory pathologies from diagnosis through to management.

In conclusion, I would have liked to see the sections describing physiotherapy written by a physiotherapist, especially the chapter referring to cystic fibrosis, but all-in-all the book provides an eminently readable manual and I would strongly recommend it to any who show an interest in the field of paediatric respiratory care.

JULIE SUTCLIFFE MCSP

Directory for Older People: A handbook of information and opportunities for the over 559, compiled by Ann Darnbrough and Derek Kinrade. Prentice-Hall, Simon & Schuster International Group, Fitzwilliam House, 32 Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 lQY, 1989 (ISBN 0 85941 393 41. Illus. 215 pages. €17.95.

This extremely useful sourcebook is a mine of information for older people. It presents growing older in a very positive light and concentrates the mind on the richness and variety of life, while addressing the very real problems that can occur over, for example, housing, reduced income, and illness. Practical, realistic advice and plenty of contact points are given under section headings.

For instance, the section entit led 'Bereavement' begins with a sensitive discussion of grief and current society's

reluctance to acknowledge a bereaved person's emotional needs. Practical matters that will need to be dealt with such as funeral arrangements, registering a death, or donating a body or organs, are discussed, and examples of current charges and relevant addresses given. The section continues w i th a l ist of 'helpful organisations' such as the British Organ Donor Society, Cruse - Bereavement Care, and the Gay Bereavement Project, and finishes with a list of relevant books and publications.

A whole range of topics are covered in this way with plenty of sign-posting for further help and advice. Topics covered include keeping warm; making new friends; arts, sports and leisure; and sex in later life.

I could not find any reference to physio- therapy although Laura Mitchell's books and television programmes are highly recommended. The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy is not listed in the index, although the British Chiropractic Associatinn

and the General Council of Osteopaths gett a plug among alternatives in health care.

The authors are concerned that important Services and opportunities for older People may have been omitted and they ask for these to be brought to their attention - so the Situation can be rectified for the next edition, Overall, this is a valuable reference book which will be of interest to those working with older people. and one which I would like to see in waiting areas for older people to peruse. p A ROBERTS MCSP

Parents with Disabilities: Equipment for disabled people, by G M Cockrane and E R Wilshire. Mary Marlborough Lodge, Nuffield Orthopaedic, Oxford OX3 7LD. 1989 (ISBN 0 946112 26 6). Illus. 81 pages. f6.

A new publication in the Equipment for Disabled People series, this book contains some useful information and primarily looks at the range of equipment which is available for parents with disabilities.

Other subjects covered include benefits, sources of help and play, with the sources of help chapter being very comprehensive, the benefits chapter less so.

Each equipment section first looks at the relevant British Standard and goes on to explore the range of products available. General information on the suitability of items for people with different disabilities is given, however, due to the layout of the text it can involve lengthy reading when looking for specific features.

The section on lifting and handling is too brief and the mobility information fails to look at possible solutions to the problems encountered when pushing a pram from a wheelchair.

Despite this, the book would be of use to anyone advising on the practical difficulties experienced by parents with a disability and would be useful in a reference library.

ALISON BARKER MCSP

584 - - PhVsiotherapn September 1990, VOI 76, 'm g