Essentials of Strength Training and
Conditioning, 4th Edition
ISBN: 978-1-4925-0162-6 752 pages,
Hard Cover ISBN-10: 1-4925-0162-X
Edition: 4th Authors: Haff, G. Gregory,
PhD; Triplett, N. Travis, PhD Specialties: Sports Medicine Publisher: Human Kinetics List Price: US $104.00
DESCRIPTION: This is an update of a
book that covers all aspects of strength and
conditioning that professionals in the field of
exercise require. The Website offers ancillary
videos and laboratory activities. The third
edition was published in 2008. PURPOSE: It
is intended to be a comprehensive resource
on all aspects of the field of strength and
conditioning. Copious amounts of recent and
relevant research are detailed in a concise
manner. The online videos help with understanding, supplementing the photographs in
the book. AUDIENCE: The intended audience includes anyone in the field of
strength and conditioning, from students to
seasoned professionals. The authors successfully serve this wide-ranging audience
with a book that is readable and relevant
for all. Seasoned professionals can use this
as a reference or to update their knowledge
to align with current research, whereas
students can use it to understand new and
often complicated information. The book
is appropriate for professionals familiar
with the verbiage, and it highlights key terms
for students who may be struggling to keep up
with the terminology. The authors are PhDs
with certifications in strength and conditioning
as well as being NSCA fellows. Chapters are
authored by experts in their respective fields.
BOOK CONTENT/FEATURES: The book
covers all aspects of strength and conditioning, from reviews of anatomy, physiology,
and biomechanics to program design and the
current hot topics of overtraining and highintensity interval training. It covers a diversity
of training programs exceptionally well, using
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excellent photographs of exercises, drills, and
techniques. The large number of photographs makes this an excellent reference.
WEBSITE CONTENT/FEATURES: The
ancillary resources on the website include
videos and laboratory activities. The videos
promote good technique in weightlifting,
which is valuable to strength and conditioning professionals. It is simple to register for
an account online and easy to find both the
videos and laboratory activities. Unfortunately, there is no study guide or key term
glossary, which would have been helpful.
ASSESSMENT: This is the most comprehensive reference available for exercise
professionals in the area of strength and
conditioning. It also has the distinct advantage of being an exceedingly good study
material for professionals pursuing certification as strength and conditioning coaches.
The depth of information is unmatched, and
the level of current research dissemination is
excellent. This edition is justified, because of
the new research and the expansion of
topics, which are currently popular.
RATING: jjj
Reviewed by: Kimberly Friedman, MS,
ATC, CES (Hospital of the University
of Pennsylvania)
Head and Neck Injuries in
Young Athletes
ISBN: 978-3319235486 232 pages,
hard cover ISBN-10: 3319235486 Edition: 1st Authors: O"Brien, Michael,
MD; Meehan, William P., III, MD Specialties: Orthopedics, Sports Medicine
Publisher: Springer Series Title: Contemporary Pediatric and Adolescent
Sports Medicine List Price: US $109.00
DESCRIPTION: This book provides up-todate information about head and neck injuries in young athletes ranging from relatively minor problems to life-threatening
issues. PURPOSE: It is intended as a resource for providers caring for youth athletes
on common head and neck injuries as well
as the rarer and more severe head and cervical spine and cord issues. Focusing on
youth athletes, and how to effectively assess,
manage, and safely return them to play are
worthy objectives. AUDIENCE: The book
is written for team physicians, sports medicine
physicians, and orthopedists. It also would be
useful for primary care and emergency medicine practitioners who care for injured athletes.
The authors include some of the preeminent
names in the field. FEATURES: The book
includes thoughtful discussions about concussions, highlighting relative cognitive and
physical rest as mainstays of treatment. It
expands on this to address more prolonged
visual disturbances with concussion and
chronic traumatic encephalopathy. The book
also discusses when imaging is needed to
evaluate for more life-threatening injuries
including intracranial hemorrhage or cervical
spine injuries. Facial fractures and isolated
or associated ear and dental injuries are
addressed. Neck injuries are helpfully divided
into muscular and ligamentous injuries, disc
disease, fractures, and burners/stingers/
quadriparesis. A theme throughout is the focus on both primary and secondary prevention of injury patterns, where evidence is
available. Photos aid in learning how to safely
move patients and depict physical examination findings in dental injuries. There are pathology images, radiographs, and advanced
imaging to highlight fractures or other disease
patterns. Although some chapters touch on
assessment for associated eye injuries, the
book lacks a chapter on eye injury or management. ASSESSMENT: This is a wellorganized book appropriate for providers
caring for youth athletes. It reads easily either
using as an initial resource for learning about
head and neck injury pathology, or as a reference during sideline or clinical care. It is
particularly useful in its focus on how to assess athletes for safe return to play and references protocols that can be used and reviewed.
RATING: jjj
Reviewed by: Rachel Bengtzen, MD
(Oregon Health and Science University)
The ratings are divided into five groups, and each group is assigned one to five stars.
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Exceptional book with nearly flawless execution
Outstanding book, with minor problems in execution
Very good book, but usually with one or more fairly significant flaws
Average book, usually with several flaws (or one major flaw) or significant
weakness versus its competition
Substandard book
2073
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