Functional Movement in Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy,
edited by Bruce Brownstein and Shaw Bronner may go into more detail than the
general reader might want. I read
these things so others don’t have to, but I would not dissuade anyone from
going for it.
In the Preface, Mark Morris is
quoted on the subject of whether grace can be taught. He says, “…It’s not just a physical thing; it’s a mental
thing—to know what one part is doing while the other part is happening, to have
that happen seamlessly and efficiently.
I think efficiency has to do with grace, in employing the most direct
action to accomplish a task. Like
picking up a pen, or folding a piece of paper, or talking on the phone, or
tying your shoe, or putting groceries in a sack: functional things.”
That relationship between body and mind, between movement and function,
is what amazes me about fitness in all its forms.
The book goes on to discuss
topics such as biomechanics, neuroscience, and functional outcomes. There are chapters on various body
parts (shoulder, spine, etc.). I
found the chapters on sports, dance, and geriatrics to be particularly
interesting.
Again, not exactly a page-turner,
but an engrossing read with lots of useful information and food for thought.