DEPARTMENTS
Reviews of Textbooks of Motor Learning and Neuroplasticity Kleim JA, Neural Plasticity: Foundation for Neurorehabilitation. Arizona: Tanas Publishing, 2012; 184 pp, ISBN. $39.99 (e-book), $49.99 (e-book and teaching slides). Available online at www.tanaspub.com Purpose: This electronic book (e-book), the first book published by Tanas Publishing, provides a comprehensive summary of basic principles underlying neural plasticity as they relate to neurorehabilitation. The author’s stated purpose is to enhance understanding of the key neural and behavioral signals that drive neural plasticity so that more effective neurorehabilitation approaches can be developed and implemented in clinical practice. Central themes of the book are that neural plasticity and functional changes are associated with neurorehabilitation, and that therapists need to better understand how to specifically apply and advance interventions to optimize neural plasticity. Audience: The author states that the book is intended for clinicians (therapists) working in neurorehabilitation. It could be very useful for any health professional working with people with neurologic injury of any age, as well as faculty and students seeking to understand how evolving knowledge about neural plasticity can relate to rehabilitation after nervous system injury. Organization/Structure: Access to the e-book is managed by following a link provided by the publisher; the e-book is then downloaded as a pdf file onto a computer. The book is organized into 2 main sections: Section I: Fundamentals of Neural Plasticity, and Section II: Neural Plasticity and Neurorehabilitation. Section I (Chapters 1-5) includes a historical perspective regarding neural plasticity as well as definitions of key terms (Chapter 1); a summary of relevant animal and human studies that demonstrate the variety of changes in neuron structure and function underlying plasticity (Chapters 24); and an overview of brain organization that highlights the concepts of redundancy and interconnectivity as they relate to functional reorganization after brain injury (Chapter 5). Section II (Chapters 6-12) focuses on application of the information presented in Section I to clinical practice. Chapter 6 includes a discussion of recovery versus compensation at both the behavioral and neural levels, whereas Chapter 7 presents strategies that can be used in rehabilitation to exploit key neural
DOI: 10.1097/NPT.0000000000000044
and behavioral signals that drive plasticity. In Chapter 8, factors that are known to influence plasticity and functional outcome (development, aging, sex, genotype, experience, residual functional anatomy after damage to the central nervous system, and timing of intervention postinjury) are addressed. Maladaptive plasticity is discussed in Chapter 9. Finally, Chapter 10 includes the author’s ideas regarding changes in the approach to neurorehabilitation that are needed to effectively apply the expanding knowledge of neural plasticity to clinical practice. Information: Overall, this e-book provides a thorough summary of current literature from both animal and human studies related to neural plasticity, with an appropriately heavier emphasis on human studies. A major strength is the translation of these studies to neurorehabilitation; throughout the second half of the book, the author provides several thoughtful and useful examples of current and possible future applications of this evolving body knowledge for practicing clinicians. The text is written from the first-person perspective, interspersed with objective and clear reporting of relevant scientific studies. Overall, the text is well written and easy to follow. Included are over 170 illustrations, many of which are animated and include audio explanations; these are highly effective at enhancing understanding of the concepts presented in the text and are spaced well throughout the text. Selecting the “Click to activate” option on an animation consistently allows access to every animation, although each animation can only be viewed once without closing and reopening the textbook. After the final chapter, an extensive glossary and reference list are included. Bookmarks allow the reader to easily move from the beginning of one chapter to another, and options exist to view the text either as a single page or as 2 pages simultaneously. On the publisher’s website, it states that the information included in the e-book will be updated annually, but there is no clear explanation of the mechanism for receiving updates, or any associated costs. Summary: This textbook is a unique and necessary addition to the field of neurorehabilitation. The author has struck a nice balance, presenting key scientific studies in an easy to understand manner, and identifying their application and relevance to clinical practice. This e-book is a useful reference for entrylevel physical therapy students, and a key source of information for advanced clinicians practicing in neurorehabilitation. Kathleen Gill-Body, DPT, MS, NCS, FAPTA Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Newton, Massachussetts E-mail: [email protected]
JNPT r Volume 38, July 2014 Copyright © 2014 Neurology Section, APTA. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
201
JNPT r Volume 38, July 2014
Skill Acquisition in Sport: Research, Theory and Practice Hodges NJ, Williams AM, eds. Skill Acquisition in Sport: Research, Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. London: Routledge, 2012; 385 pp, ISBN: 978-0-415-60786-5. $63.95 Purpose: This fully-revised second edition text examines processes used to learn/improve motor skills, on the basis of classic and new science. Featuring expert contributors from all over the world, the book covers important aspects of motor learning that are very relevant to practitioners attempting to optimize movement strategies in their clients, sports-related and otherwise. Updated research is provided on concepts ingrained in sports and rehabilitation education and practice (eg, feedback and demonstration), as well as newer topics (eg, robotic guidance). Audience: The editors state that this text will be useful to stimulate continued research interest, as an evidence-based resource for athletic coaches, and, as a source for undergraduate/graduate students of motor learning. In addition, any instructor of motor learning, motor control, or neurorehabilitation, as well as advanced neurologic clinicians, will find this text to be a refreshing resource for the underpinnings of many aspects of clinical practice. Organization/Structure: The book is organized into 5 broad sections, each containing several chapters (21 in all): Presenting Information, covering instruction, feedback, demonstration, and implicit motor learning; Optimizing Practice Conditions, including contextual interference, mental practice, ecological considerations, information processing, and physical guidance; Issues in Motor Learning, which explores motivation, sleep, neural plasticity, and readiness for learning; Skilled Performance, focusing on the acquisition of sport expertise; and Research, Theory, and Practice: Challenges and Solutions, addressing application of principles into elite sport. Some aspects of motor control are also included, such as ecological dynamics, and the production of sequential DOI: 10.1097/NPT.0000000000000045
202
movement. The organization of the book is logical, the writing style is, for the most part, not dense, and each chapter contains useful introductions, subheadings, illustrations, and summaries, with suggestions for further research. Information: This text achieves an effective balance between breadth and depth of content. Early versus later motor learning is addressed by many authors, and at times evidence includes both children and adults. Although the title implies a heavy emphasis on sports performance, the concepts and tone of the book are really about physical skill learning. Application and examples are related not only to sports but also to functional movement in general. Most of the cited research is with healthy participants, though studies on those with movement dysfunction are mentioned occasionally. This is not a clinical text, and authors do not commonly apply the content to clients with neurologic dysfunction. However, the book reviews multiple concepts that thoughtful teachers, researchers, and clinicians should be able to internalize. For example, therapists routinely employ demonstration, positive reinforcement, and physical guidance when teaching motor skills. The authors explain research findings that elucidate nuances of these tools to show they should not be used in a one-size-fits-all manner. Such new insights provide a valuable update for teachers, researchers, and clinicians. Summary: This heavily-referenced book is essential, current reading for instructors of courses/content on motor learning. The lack of clinical application limits its in-depth use by entrylevel professional students, although advanced students may benefit. The salience of the overall content also makes this an important reference for rehabilitation therapists wishing to update their approaches to skill acquisition with their clients. Experts in neurologic physical therapy will find numerous theories and concepts that are ripe for judicious translation into clinical practice. Susan B. Perry, PT, DPT, MS, NCS Associate Professor, Physical Therapy Program Chatham University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania E-mail: [email protected]
C 2014 Neurology Section, APTA
Copyright © 2014 Neurology Section, APTA. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
Reviews of Textbooks of Motor Learning and Neuroplasticity Kleim JA, Neural Plasticity: Foundation for Neurorehabilitation. Arizona: Tanas Publishing, 2012; 184 pp, ISBN. $39.99 (e-book), $49.99 (e-book and teaching slides). Available online at www.tanaspub.com Purpose: This electronic book (e-book), the first book published by Tanas Publishing, provides a comprehensive summary of basic principles underlying neural plasticity as they relate to neurorehabilitation. The author’s stated purpose is to enhance understanding of the key neural and behavioral signals that drive neural plasticity so that more effective neurorehabilitation approaches can be developed and implemented in clinical practice. Central themes of the book are that neural plasticity and functional changes are associated with neurorehabilitation, and that therapists need to better understand how to specifically apply and advance interventions to optimize neural plasticity. Audience: The author states that the book is intended for clinicians (therapists) working in neurorehabilitation. It could be very useful for any health professional working with people with neurologic injury of any age, as well as faculty and students seeking to understand how evolving knowledge about neural plasticity can relate to rehabilitation after nervous system injury. Organization/Structure: Access to the e-book is managed by following a link provided by the publisher; the e-book is then downloaded as a pdf file onto a computer. The book is organized into 2 main sections: Section I: Fundamentals of Neural Plasticity, and Section II: Neural Plasticity and Neurorehabilitation. Section I (Chapters 1-5) includes a historical perspective regarding neural plasticity as well as definitions of key terms (Chapter 1); a summary of relevant animal and human studies that demonstrate the variety of changes in neuron structure and function underlying plasticity (Chapters 24); and an overview of brain organization that highlights the concepts of redundancy and interconnectivity as they relate to functional reorganization after brain injury (Chapter 5). Section II (Chapters 6-12) focuses on application of the information presented in Section I to clinical practice. Chapter 6 includes a discussion of recovery versus compensation at both the behavioral and neural levels, whereas Chapter 7 presents strategies that can be used in rehabilitation to exploit key neural
DOI: 10.1097/NPT.0000000000000044
and behavioral signals that drive plasticity. In Chapter 8, factors that are known to influence plasticity and functional outcome (development, aging, sex, genotype, experience, residual functional anatomy after damage to the central nervous system, and timing of intervention postinjury) are addressed. Maladaptive plasticity is discussed in Chapter 9. Finally, Chapter 10 includes the author’s ideas regarding changes in the approach to neurorehabilitation that are needed to effectively apply the expanding knowledge of neural plasticity to clinical practice. Information: Overall, this e-book provides a thorough summary of current literature from both animal and human studies related to neural plasticity, with an appropriately heavier emphasis on human studies. A major strength is the translation of these studies to neurorehabilitation; throughout the second half of the book, the author provides several thoughtful and useful examples of current and possible future applications of this evolving body knowledge for practicing clinicians. The text is written from the first-person perspective, interspersed with objective and clear reporting of relevant scientific studies. Overall, the text is well written and easy to follow. Included are over 170 illustrations, many of which are animated and include audio explanations; these are highly effective at enhancing understanding of the concepts presented in the text and are spaced well throughout the text. Selecting the “Click to activate” option on an animation consistently allows access to every animation, although each animation can only be viewed once without closing and reopening the textbook. After the final chapter, an extensive glossary and reference list are included. Bookmarks allow the reader to easily move from the beginning of one chapter to another, and options exist to view the text either as a single page or as 2 pages simultaneously. On the publisher’s website, it states that the information included in the e-book will be updated annually, but there is no clear explanation of the mechanism for receiving updates, or any associated costs. Summary: This textbook is a unique and necessary addition to the field of neurorehabilitation. The author has struck a nice balance, presenting key scientific studies in an easy to understand manner, and identifying their application and relevance to clinical practice. This e-book is a useful reference for entrylevel physical therapy students, and a key source of information for advanced clinicians practicing in neurorehabilitation. Kathleen Gill-Body, DPT, MS, NCS, FAPTA Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Newton, Massachussetts E-mail: [email protected]
JNPT r Volume 38, July 2014 Copyright © 2014 Neurology Section, APTA. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
201
JNPT r Volume 38, July 2014
Skill Acquisition in Sport: Research, Theory and Practice Hodges NJ, Williams AM, eds. Skill Acquisition in Sport: Research, Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. London: Routledge, 2012; 385 pp, ISBN: 978-0-415-60786-5. $63.95 Purpose: This fully-revised second edition text examines processes used to learn/improve motor skills, on the basis of classic and new science. Featuring expert contributors from all over the world, the book covers important aspects of motor learning that are very relevant to practitioners attempting to optimize movement strategies in their clients, sports-related and otherwise. Updated research is provided on concepts ingrained in sports and rehabilitation education and practice (eg, feedback and demonstration), as well as newer topics (eg, robotic guidance). Audience: The editors state that this text will be useful to stimulate continued research interest, as an evidence-based resource for athletic coaches, and, as a source for undergraduate/graduate students of motor learning. In addition, any instructor of motor learning, motor control, or neurorehabilitation, as well as advanced neurologic clinicians, will find this text to be a refreshing resource for the underpinnings of many aspects of clinical practice. Organization/Structure: The book is organized into 5 broad sections, each containing several chapters (21 in all): Presenting Information, covering instruction, feedback, demonstration, and implicit motor learning; Optimizing Practice Conditions, including contextual interference, mental practice, ecological considerations, information processing, and physical guidance; Issues in Motor Learning, which explores motivation, sleep, neural plasticity, and readiness for learning; Skilled Performance, focusing on the acquisition of sport expertise; and Research, Theory, and Practice: Challenges and Solutions, addressing application of principles into elite sport. Some aspects of motor control are also included, such as ecological dynamics, and the production of sequential DOI: 10.1097/NPT.0000000000000045
202
movement. The organization of the book is logical, the writing style is, for the most part, not dense, and each chapter contains useful introductions, subheadings, illustrations, and summaries, with suggestions for further research. Information: This text achieves an effective balance between breadth and depth of content. Early versus later motor learning is addressed by many authors, and at times evidence includes both children and adults. Although the title implies a heavy emphasis on sports performance, the concepts and tone of the book are really about physical skill learning. Application and examples are related not only to sports but also to functional movement in general. Most of the cited research is with healthy participants, though studies on those with movement dysfunction are mentioned occasionally. This is not a clinical text, and authors do not commonly apply the content to clients with neurologic dysfunction. However, the book reviews multiple concepts that thoughtful teachers, researchers, and clinicians should be able to internalize. For example, therapists routinely employ demonstration, positive reinforcement, and physical guidance when teaching motor skills. The authors explain research findings that elucidate nuances of these tools to show they should not be used in a one-size-fits-all manner. Such new insights provide a valuable update for teachers, researchers, and clinicians. Summary: This heavily-referenced book is essential, current reading for instructors of courses/content on motor learning. The lack of clinical application limits its in-depth use by entrylevel professional students, although advanced students may benefit. The salience of the overall content also makes this an important reference for rehabilitation therapists wishing to update their approaches to skill acquisition with their clients. Experts in neurologic physical therapy will find numerous theories and concepts that are ripe for judicious translation into clinical practice. Susan B. Perry, PT, DPT, MS, NCS Associate Professor, Physical Therapy Program Chatham University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania E-mail: [email protected]
C 2014 Neurology Section, APTA
Copyright © 2014 Neurology Section, APTA. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
