Book Review: Clinical Exercise Science

There are a range of books that address the evidence and guidelines for working with people with chronic health conditions but many of them approach the topic from either a physiological, psychological or epidemiological perspective. Clinical Exercise Science (£34.99, Routledge, 2016) has attempted to capture the range of content and considerations that should be of interest to anyone working in a real-world setting with real people.


The book contextualises the current landscape of provision and employment in health and exercise and opens with a description of the various accreditation pathways that are available to emerging professionals in both the UK and further afield. Further chapters address a range of conditions that are broadly mapped to those recognised as level 4 areas by REPs, with each chapter covering the required pathophysiology and exercise guidelines but the additional use of case studies and study tasks makes this a book that readers can engage with by applying some of the key knowledge through applied reasoning and investigation. The short list of suggested further reading and the inclusion of sections that consider where current research is heading, or at least should be heading, is an inclusion that should be of great use to both undergraduates and those studying postgraduate and advanced courses.


The last few chapters (11-14) are where the book takes a more significant diversion from many previous titles as it reviews current evidence around behaviour change, health promotion, evidence-based practice and the use of stealth interventions. Many of these areas receive coverage in other books, but their inclusion alongside what has traditionally been the domain of exercise physiologists is encouraging and a reflection of the broad base of knowledge that effective practitioners need in a range of settings.

Clinical Exercise Science (£34.99, Routledge, 2016) is a new title that has just hit our desks and is edited by Andrew Scott and Christopher Gidlow.

Contents1. Introduction (Andrew Scott)
2. Physical Activity in Cardiac Rehabilitation (Gail Sheppard & Steve Meadows)
3. Physical Activity for Chronic Respiratory Disease (Linzy Houchen-Wolloff, Lorna Latimer & Michael Steiner)
4. Physical Activity for Type II Diabetes (Tom Yates & Andrew Scott)
5. Physical Activity for Mental Health (Naomi Ellis & Leon Meek)
6. Physical Activity for Cancer (Clare Stevinson, Anna Campbell & Helen Crank)
7. Physical Activity after Stroke (Tom Balchin, Sarah Valkenborghs)
8. Exercise for Long Term Neurological Conditions: Multiple Sclerosis and Huntington’s Disease (Johnathan Collett, Helen Dawes & James Bateman)
9. Physical Activity for Osteoarthritis (Gladys Onambélé-Pearson & Neil D Reeves)
10. Pre-operative Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing and Prehabilitation (Lisa Loughney, Sandy Jack & Denny Z H Levett)
11. Influencing Health Behaviour: Applying Theory to Practice (Lynne Johnston & Andrew Hutchison)
12. Evidence-Based Practice in Physical Activity Promotion (Diane Crone & David V James)
13. Physical Activity Promotion in Primary Health Care and the Community (Christopher Gidlow, Diane Crone & Michelle Huws-Thomas)
14. Evaluating Stealth Motivation Interventions to Promote Exercise Referral Scheme Engagement and Adherence (Samantha Meredith & Chris Wagstaff)


Clinical Exercise Science on the Routledge Site
Clinical Exercise Science on Amazon


by Ben Jane