Adult Hemiplegia

What is it that characterises Pat Davies' second book about hemi plegia and makes it so special? It is a book which committed ther apists can really use in their practical work with patients. We ther apists need such books. The engagement and enthusiasm must come from us. It is similar to a good cookbook. Admittedly one has to know something about cooking but when learning the secrets of haute cuisine - not just the expensive frills but the real refinement- then theoretical dissertations are not very helpful. In practice com ments like "you just have to have the right touch" are useless. Many books are disappointing because the reader cannot learn how to put theory into practice, as the author does not disclose the true secrets of his success, perhaps not really wanting the eager stu dents to "bake a good cake" for example. Such is not the case with this book. In the first theoretical chap ter "The Normal Trunk - Evolutionary and Anatomical Consider ations" the reader is given information about the significance of the normal anatomical relationships in the development of the body segments: the pelvis, thorax and head. The second chapter, "Aspects of Trunk Control", deals with the muscular control of movement within each of these inherently mobile segments. In the terminology of "Functional Kinetics" the different types of muscle activities are described, defining the importance of the selective use of the musculature in reaction to the pull of gravity.

This new edition of a best-selling guide incorporates significant advances in the early and later rehabilitation of neurologically impaired patients. Based on the Bobath concept, Davies' approach to rehabilitation stresses the need to equip the patient for a full life, rather than setting arbitrary goals for functioning in a sheltered environment. Activities are described for correcting abnormal movement patterns and facial difficulties. Ways to regain walking, balance and other normal movement sequences are explained and demonstrated with 750 photographs of patients being treated.

The treatment and reintegration of adults with brain damage sustained as a result of illness or accident is one of the most important and challenging tasks in the field of rehabilitation. This is not only due to the complexity of the lost functions, but also because stroke is the most frequent cause of severe disability in our society. Approx imately 25% of all severely disabled persons are hemiplegics (Nichols 1976). Brain damage caused by vascular disease is a tremendous problem for any population and civilization. Causes and effects, with the resulting symptoms, vary so widely that the problems are only gradually being recognized, and then perhaps not fully, even by the most committed research workers, doctors and therapists. The function al disturbances that arise as a result of cerebro-vascular accident, that is following stroke, in young and old do not differ fundamentally for the different age groups. Treatment and rehabilitation do however become more difficult with increasing age due mainly to the frequent presence of multiple disease, multiple sites, the diffuse spread of the vascular disease and the brain damage itself, the decreasing plasticity of the central nervous system and the frequent absence of a partner, of relatives and friends in later years. Deep down inside everyone knows that a stroke is one of the most devastating traumas to the whole personality, that it is a dreadful blow to the person directly af fected and to his family and friends as well.