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book reviews leaching 7tanscultural Care - A guide for teachers of nursing and health care by Paula McGee. Chapman and Hall, London, 1992 (ISBN 0 412 44080 6). 81 pages. f 11.95.

I read this short book with enjoyment and feel it is a valuable resource to physiotherapy tutors and physiotherapists involved in student education or in-service training.

The book is based upon a master’s dissertation, and although it is geared towards nurses it is, in my view, equally valuable to physiotherapists.

The first chapter deals with general issues in transcultural health care. It is easy to read and well referenced for readers who wish to explore issues in greater depth. The author confronts uncomfortable issues such as racism, which are so often glossed over in this type of text, very openly. Chapter two explores multicultural education today and provides an outline of various curriculum models of teaching strategies explaining the advantages and short- comings of each.

The following chapter ‘Transcultural care through self-awareness’ consists of four activities which tutors can use when teaching this topic These activities examine ‘cultural self-awareness’, ‘equal opportunities’, ‘communication’, and ‘health and illness’. They include a quiz, a self-completed questionnaire, and a role play activity. The final two chapters explore the assessment, planning and evaluation of transcultural care. This book makes no attempt to describe

in detail the individual differences between various ethnic minority groups, bu t a t tempts instead to explore constructively our attitudes, prejudices and practices as a way of improving health care for people who do not share the dominant culture. It is a useful introduction to the teaching of this topic

Sally French MSc BSc DipGradPhys DipTP

Muscles, Masses and Motion - The Physiology of Normality, Hypotonicity, Spasticity and Rigidity by E Geoffrey Walsh MD FRCP FRSE. Blackwell Scientific Publications Ud, Oxford, 1992 (ISBN

Illus. 220 pages. f32.

This book is concerned with the biomechanical aspects of muscle tone and control of posture. It does not, as the title suggests, include details of physiological mechanisms involved. However, the author acknowledges this fact in the foreword. The historical review of methode of measuring muscle tone is particularly interesting. The use of quotations from t h dtiginal papers in this section, and d e e d throughout the book, give it an

0 901260 97 5 - UK, 0 521 43229 4 - USA).

authentic air. Subsequent chapters deal with studies of normal and abnormal tone (eg in cerebral palsy, stroke and Parkinsonism) using relevant clinical examples to illustrate points being discussed.

Although concepts are explained generally in the first chapter they are also explained in subsequent chapters to aid understanding. Cross-referencing between sections is also useful. Dr Walsh has obviously contributed greatly to knowledge in this field as evidenced by illustrated reference to his own studies throughout the book.

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Budda in ‘Lotus position’ - soles of feet upwards; hypermobility is relatively common in Orientals A drawing fiom ‘Muscles, Masses and Motion’

The text is well written and presented but there are some points regarding content and readability which warrant comment. A brief discussion of the recording of sounds generated by contracting muscles (a technique termed acoustic myography) on page 14 might have been better represented by inclusion of more recent work than the 1948 paper referred to. There has been a proliferation of research into acoustic myography, particularly since 1980. The technique is potentially useful for assessing the mechanical activity of muscle and is therefore very relevant to the topic of this book. On page 19 the reference to figure 11.1 should probably read figure 11.11. Some of the biomechanical details can become rather difficult to follow at times but the use of clear and frequent dia- grams, as well as summaries at the end of the chapters, help to counteract this tendency. There were places where it was difficult to see the relevance of certain sections.

This account of biomechanical investigations of muscle tone and its control mechanisms includes some novel experiments by the author which give a uniqueness to this book. The constraints imposed upon scientists today (due to rigid protocols to obtain and maintain funding) unfortunately make Dr Walsh’s type of innovative research almost a thing of the past.

This field is of obvious relevance to

physiotherapy in the area of motor control. For those with an interest in experimental biomechanics and its history in particular this book will make fascinating reading. The book does not appear to be intended as a textbook for students but would make a use ful contribution to libraries and departmental collections.

Maria Stokes PhD MCSP

Knee Pain and Disability by Rene Cailliet MD. FA Davis Co, Philadelphia, 1992, UK distributor: Williams and WMns Ud, Broadway House, 2-6 Fulham Broadwa~ London Sw6 1AA (3rd edn) (ISBN 0 8036 1622 8). Illus. 287 paps. f15.25.

The series of books produced by Dr Cailliet has stood the test of time. Most of these reference works about different areas of the body and the common prob- lems which afflict them have been used by all kinds of practitioners for many years. The books have the virtue ofbeing well presented and clearly written. They contain technical material, but remain accessible. They are crammed with information, and yet do not overwhelm the eye and mind.

That said, the series has a major defect, in that it appears almost totally to neglect physiotherapy and the important role of skilled physiotherapists in treating mechanical derangements of the body.

This new edition does not break the mould. Physiotherapy is not mentioned. Instead, the author sets out his own versions of exercise regimes for different knee problems. Many physiotherapists would question the wisdom of a straight- leg-raising regime, closely followed by inner-range knee extension from flexion (page 166) for anterior knee pain: these are both (in my view) later stage exercises which can increase pain if used before vastus medialis oblique inhibition has been overcome No physiotherapist would accept a hamstring stretching exercise with the lumbar spine fully flexed as being ‘protective’ for the lower back (page 140).

There are undoubtedly many good features in this book. Physiotherapists will certainly be interested by some of the biomechanical details of movement and injuries relating to the knee, which are described well, fully referenced and clearly illustrated.

It is a pity that the sections on rehabilitation treatment should be marred by the author’s apparent ignor- ance of the scope of physiotherapy as applied to knee problems. Sadly, patients treated by doctors and surgeons who are not familiar with accurate physiotherapy can end up with long-term problems, &n from relatively trivial knee trauma. Let us hope that the next edition of this book corrects this disappointing defect.

Vivian Grisogono MA(0xon) MCSP

Physiotherapy, April 1993, voi79, no 4