The subject of the book is unusual in discussing, and comprehensively illustrating, injury risks and ergonomic hazards of health-care professionals who practise manual therapies. These health-care professionals, who are particularly versed in analysing the poor work ergonomics and resulting injuries in their clients, are often perhaps remiss when considering their own work ergonomics and the potential for injury to themselves. The book, which is an American publication, opens up this subject in detail. It is particularly sobering to read that recent data reveal that 66% of hand therapists suffer from work-related upper limb musculoskeletal injury during their careers.

The book has three sections: (1) Why manual therapists get injured; (2) Preventing injury; and (3) Injury, treatment and recovery. Chapters expand on raising the awareness of injury risk, weak links in the body and assessment of risk. Exploring topics including working techniques, ergonomics, emotional issues and general health does encourage important self-assessment of risk, but I found the inclusion of the management of insomnia, how to prepare a therapeutic bath and suggestions for lifestyle changes were perhaps overly introspective.

The section devoted to injuries common to manual therapists, diagnosis and treatment is informative, and full of good common sense. The importance of not jeopardizing your career by ignoring pain is particularly stressed, and the pitfalls of self-treating symptoms, a common failure among health-care professionals, are emphasized.

The risk factor worksheets in the appendix are clear and simple. There is an extensive bibliography, which would encourage further reading. The book is intended for a readership with a varying range of knowledge, which is a challenge, and thus the information presented swings somewhat from some simplistic descriptions at a very basic level to those more attuned to an experienced professional.

The co-authors, a massage therapist and a professional ergonomist, practising in the USA, state their main goal is the prevention of injury. The book does raise awareness and encourages practical constructive thought about injury prevention for this specific group of health-care professionals.

Save your Hands! is well laid out, well illustrated, informative and easy to read and so does present a useful broad-based reference manual. There is a website designed to be used in conjunction with the book.