Written by physiotherapists Jacqueline (Jackie) Reznik and Joshua (Josh) Simmons, Rehabilitation in Spinal Cord Injuries has been four years in the making.

While teaching SCI for many years, Jackie became increasingly aware of the paucity of relevant and up-to-date teaching material and introduced the idea to Josh during ANZSCoS ASM 2016.  Apprehensive at first, Josh looks back on the experience as a fantastic opportunity to share knowledge, representing patient, client and individual perspectives in the context of SCI rehabilitation.

“The only way we get better at what we do is to pool our knowledge and clinical experience so we can provide better care to our patients/clients.”

A labour of love, the book contains a wealth of topics.  Bromley’s ‘Tetraplegia and Paraplegia’ formed the basis of topics for the book, with Jackie and Josh introducing new ones based on their experience as both clinicians and teachers.

There are multi-contributors to the text, however Jackie and Josh are particularly proud of the contribution from people with SCI, giving this book a special edge. The title of the last chapter ‘The Hazards of Living with a Spinal Cord Injury’ was the brainchild of a friend of Jackie’s who has SCI whom she’s known for over 45 years!

Jackie and Josh acknowledge Shruti Raj (project manager) and Melinda McEvoy (content manager) who “were amazing and always on hand to help”.  Recognition also going to external editor, Margaret Trudgeon who “definitely went above and beyond, even co-opting her own son to take suitable pictures of the Melbourne Trams!”

Jackie dedicates the book to an old friend, Wilma Aniç – a physio who acquired a SCI two years after graduating “who set an example to us all.”   Sadly, Wilma passed away earlier this year after living a full and active life from her wheelchair for more than 50 years. Josh hopes that patients, physios and other clinicians he’s worked with will see their influence in the book, it’s a product of each of them.

This book will be a welcome addition to bookshelves of undergraduate and new graduate physiotherapists, other Allied Health professionals and anyone who would like to review or build their knowledge and skills in the management of SCI, particularly in the context of what means to those who benefit from our input. It’s available from Elsevier and Amazon.