Ken Crenshaw: Essential Reading List
July 20, 2009 
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Today’s post is the first in a series that I have been developing for some time now. I wanted to create a comprehensive list of recommended books, sort of an “Essential Reading List” for physical therapists, athletic trainers, strength and conditioning specialists, and really any other type of rehabilitation specialists. The goal was to include books that I felt were influential in my development and clinical practice. To take this one step further, I have been accumulating lists of essential readings from several leaders, pioneers, and influential clinicians in our fields.
They were all asked to provide a list of recommended books that they felt impacted their career and clinical development, helping to shape their current expertise.
I always like asking what other people are reading and learning, think of this as a glimpse into the bookcase of some of our experts!
View the complete list of essential books for physical therapists, athletic trainers, and strength and conditioning specialists
To kick things off, I have a very comprehensive list of recommended readings by Ken Crenshaw ATC, CSCS. Ken is the Head Athletic Trainer of the Arizona Diamondbacks baseball team and respected among his peers as one of the most progressive athletic trainers in sports medicine today. I love talking with Ken because he always has a unique perspective on things and is always striving to enhance his clinical skills, even with two decades of experience under his belt.
As you can see by the list below, Ken is a believer is postural balance, neuromuscular control, and efficient movement patterns to optimize function, prevent injuries, and rehabilitate injuries quickly. He actually turned me on to the works of Leon Chaitow and others.
Ken’s unique experience of working with healthy and injured athletes on a daily basis can offer us all a perspective on how to influence healing. In his environment, he can apply treatments and observe immediate and gradual feedback and results throughout each day, rather than having to wait for the patient’s next office visit in 5 days! For more information on any of the items below, click on the title of each book.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Movement Impairment Syndromes by Shirley Sarhmann 2001 Williams & Wilkins- Clinical Applications of Neuromuscular Techniques by Chaitow and DeLany 2008 Vol I Upper Body Churchill & Livingstone
- Clinical Applications of Neuromuscular Techniques by Chaitow and DeLany 2000 Vol II Lower Body Churchill & Livingstone
- Anatomy Trains 2nd edition by Thomas Myers 2009 Churchill & Livingstone
- Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: The trigger point manual. Vol 1 Upper Body and Vol 2 Lower Body, 2nd editions 1999 & 1993. By Travell and Simmons Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
- Rehabilitation of the Spine: A practitioner’s Manual by Craig Liebenson 2nd ed 2007, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
- Manipulative Therapy in Rehabilitation of the Motor System 3rd ed. by Karel Lewit, 1999 Butterworths, London
- Multidisciplinary Approaches to Breathing Pattern Disorders by L Chaitow, D Bradley & C Gilbert. 2002 Churchill Livingstone
Sports & Exercise Massage & Comprehensive Care in Athletics, Fitness and Rehabilitation by Sandy Frtiz. 2005 Mosby- Muscle Energy Techniques by Leon Chaitow 3rd ed 2006 Churchill Livingstone
- Rolfing: Reestablishing the Natural Alignment and Structural Integration of the Human Body for Vitality and Well-Being by Ida Rolf 1989 Healing Arts Press
- Therapeutic Exercise for Lumbopelvic Stabilization : A motor control approach for the treatment and prevention of low back pain. Carolyn Richardson and Paul Hodges and Julie Hides. 2nd edition 2004. Churchill Livingstone
- Positional Release Techniques by Leon Chaitow 2007. Elesevier
- Principles of Manual Medicine by Phillip Greenman 3rd ed 2003 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
- Principles of Manual Sports Medicine by Steve Karageanes 2005 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Strain Counter Strain by E Goering, LH Jones, Kusnose. 1995 Jones Strain-Counterstrain, Boise, ID- Low Back Disorders: Evidence based prevention and rehab by Stuart McGill 2002 Human Kinetics
- Ultimate Back Fitness and Performance by Stuart McGill 2004 Wabuno Publishers
Ken was also nice enough to include links to some of his favorite websites that he visits frequently:
- www.rehabps.com DNS per Pavel Kolar
- www.posturalrestoration.com Ron Hruska
- www.nydnrehab.com
- www.rothbartsfoot.info
- www.chiroweb.com
- www.leonchaitow.com Leon Chaitow
- www.strengthcoach.com Mike Boyle
- www.chekinstitute.com Paul Chek
- www.chaitowschat-leon.blogspot.com Leon Chaitow
Photo by jamespaullong
View the complete list of essential books for physical therapists, athletic trainers, and strength and conditioning specialists
Or view contributions to the The Essential Reading List Series by other expert clinicians:
- Ken Crenshaw, ATC, CSCS
- George Davies, DPT, MED, PT, SCS, ATC, LAT, CSCS, ACSM-CET, APTA-CCI, SMAC, (REMT), FAPTA
- Eric Cressey, MA, CSCS
- Leon Chaitow, ND, DO
- Sue Falsone, PT, MS, SCS, ATC, CSCS
Curious as to how the Diamondbacks staff are using the principles of Dynamic Neurmuscular Stabilization. Are they actually performing reflex locomotion techniques, or are they using the exercise principles taught by Kolar for stabilization/punctum fixum. I have taken class from Kolar and the reflex locomotion/Vojta technique are very difficult to use. At least they have been for me. Kudos to their staff if they are incorporating these techniques.