cover image Minimize Injury, Maximize Performance: A Sports Parent’s Survival Guide

Minimize Injury, Maximize Performance: A Sports Parent’s Survival Guide

Tommy John, with Myatt Murphy. Da Capo Lifelong, $18.99 trade paper (304p) ISBN 978-0-7382-3380-2

John, a baseball player and coach turned chiropractor specializing in injury prevention and rehab, offers parents a straightforward, sensible program of strength-building, nutrition, and injury avoidance for young athletes. He identifies an epidemic of preventable injuries among kids who now practice and compete in organized sports more intensely than ever before. His solution comprises four parts: Rethink, Replenish, Rebuild, and Recover. The program begins with John’s nine-move test for parents to assess their kids’ fitness level, then continues, in Part I, with advice to Rethink the motivation behind kids’ participation, and in Part II, with guidelines for a nondairy, organic, whole-food regimen to Replenish. Part III, Rebuild, focuses on bringing young bodies into balance with breathing and corrective chiropractic techniques and workouts, and Part IV, Recover, outlines the right steps for repair and recovery in case injury does occur. Exercises are illustrated with black and white photos, and a recap of salient info appears at the end of each section. While there isn’t much new information, this guide wisely warns parents against “pushing a passion on their progeny” and will help them ensure their active kids’ health. Agent: Heather Jackson, Heather Jackson Literary Agency. (June)