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The final two chapters review and explain clinicaleffectiveness, evidenced-based medicine and practice andprovide plenty of access to further resources. In particular,those involved in or contemplating research or those whomight quote or criticise it would do well to take on thematerial here.

Again the Physiotherapy Pain Association and especially

Louis Gifford have made a huge contribution towardsphysiotherapists’ knowledge and it is wonderful to think thatall this information is immediately available in such anaccessible book.

Viv Gleave MCSP

CNS Press, Falmouth2002 (ISBN 0 9533423 3 6). 273 pages

edited by Louis Gifford £26.50It was a pleasure to be asked to review this book. It is a bookby enthusiasts for enthusiasts.

Each chapter is written by a different clinician whichmakes one of the book’s strengths the differing perspectivesthey all bring. There is however a consistent narrative andthe articles are very readable and complement each otherwell.

The authors explore the way that a patient’s experience ofpain alters from onset. It offers some refreshing insights intowhy the nature of a patient’s pain changes and where the

opportunities occur and barriers arise when engaging asclinician or therapist. This book considers the broader issuesunderlying patients’ response to pain and why this may be ‘adaptive’ or ‘maladaptive’ even in evolutionary terms. It demonstrates the value of understanding this.

One cannot but help be impressed that of all potentialtherapies, the placebo effect is the one of the mostresearched and evidence based. Traditional teachingcontinues either to overlook or to dismiss it, always hopingfor something that out-performs it. One of the themescogently argued throughout is that this is a mistake – both tomiss its positive value and risking negative (nocebo) effects.This serves as a useful reminder to us all and this book goesa long way to provide a fairer and more pragmatic analysis ofthis valuable therapeutic observation.

All the articles are well referenced, but this book is not anacademic’s tome, as it clearly arises from much experiencegained by treating patients.

Mark Reeves MD

Topical Issues in Pain 4Placebo and nocebo Pain management Muscles and pain

David Fulton Publishers, London2002 (ISBN 1 85346 841 X). Illus. 224 pages

by Mike McLinden and Stephen McCall £16This book explores ways in which effective learningopportunities can be provided for children with visualimpairment and additional or multiple disabilities. Itattempts to synthesise different elements of practice andresearch that relate to the role of touch in these children’sdevelopment.

The book is divided into three parts. Part 1 ‘Finding outabout touch’ provides a background to the sense of touch,describing its early development, and clearly setting out theexploratory nature of touch, different types and theirfunctions.

Part 2 ‘Identifying barriers to touch’ explores the impactof visual impairment on development. It considers howpotential barriers to independent learning through touchcan be reduced through structuring appropriate learning

experiences. It clearly describes some assessment pro-cedures including the role of communication partners, thepractical application of tactile strategies and the use oftactile symbols such as objects of reference.

Part 3 ‘Finishing touches’ expands on children’s learningexperiences of the world and their interpretation in ameaningful way.

The vignettes throughout the text are valuable practicalexamples that support the literature. The book is clearly laidout with line drawings and tables supporting the text and iseasy to read and understand.

The book is completed by a glossary of useful terms plusportfolio activities, useful resources, further reading andreferences. Also included are several portfolio activities thatinvite readers to explore implications for their own practice.

This book will be of interest particularly to teachers andlearning support staff working with this group of children.This would also be a useful book for reference for alltherapists working with children with visual impairmentsand additional or multiple disabilities and also of interest tothose who work with adults with these disabilities. It wouldbe a useful addition to a therapist’s library.

Jennifer Burt MCSP

Learning through TouchSupporting children with visual impairmentand additional difficulties