Strength Training Anatomy Second Edition
Publishers:
ISBN-10:
ISBN-13: 9780736063685
Description: 2006 Paper Book, 144 pages

Author: Frederic Delavier

Reviewer: Ted Scheck

“Strength Training Anatomy Second Edition” by Frederic Delavier is several books and one computer application rolled into one. For $36.95 ($21.95 at Human Kinetics), that is a bargain all by itself. The computer application looks at human body musculature the way Google maps looks at the earth. You insert the disc and install it on your PC or Mac. A body without skin pops up, and you see a lot of friendly buttons. Zoom in or out, the way you do on Google on a particular location on earth.

Globally, you see the form of the body sans skin. Locally you can zoom down to as much detail as you can handle, effectively seeing the trees but not the forest. There is a lot to do on this computer application, namely, watch Quicktime movies of movements and study, in fantastic detail, the origin and insertion points of more than 600 muscles. A quiz feature is right there for you to stretch your mental faculties. The CD-ROM is a nice extra feature of the book, and I enjoyed navigating around it. We are a world unto ourselves, and our muscles are the way we translate movement from our bones. More detailed study of musculature is needed, in my opinion, because children are usually fascinated with anatomy if presented in an interesting way. One thing this book is, is INTERESTING.

This book is also an art appreciation text. The illustrations are beautiful, richly detailed, and look more like works of art than general lifeless anatomy texts. The pictures come alive and speak to your eyes. Seven broad categories define the book: Arms, Shoulders, Chest, Back, Legs, Buttocks, and Abdomen. Males are illustrated in the first three, both men and women are featured in the Back illustrations, and women adorn the Legs, Buttocks, and Abdomen.

All the exercises you would do with free weights or cables are featured in amazing detail. “Sore” points are given, for example, how to combat “low back pain” and “Hamstring and biceps muscle tears.” If you are a serious weight lifter, then chances are you’ve suffered at least a few minor injuries, and probably some serious ones as well. Those bases are covered. Most conceivable problematic issues regarding strength training are explained.

“Strength Training Anatomy” is a must for any college student, whether they’re studying anatomy/physiology, physical education, athletic training, exercise physiology, or other health/PE disciplines. This book is not, however, for elementary-aged children, for the detail in some of the pictures is “Biblical” in nature. A naked Greek man is featured in the first three pages of the book, and in more detail than I would want my students to have.