Why Do I Hurt? by Erica Meloe. EM Publishing; 2018, soft cover, 252 pages, $24.95.

Erica Meloe, PT, MBA, OCS, COMPT, is a former Wall Street investment banker, who after a decade in the financial sector, decided to take her problem-solving skills into the field of physical therapy. She holds a board specialist certification in orthopedic physical therapy, as well as a certificate of manual therapy. She owns a private practice in New York City where she specializes in treating patients with persistent and unsolved pain. Erica is co-host of the podcast "Tough to Treat: A Physiotherapist's Guide to Managing Those Complex Patients" and has been featured in Forbes, BBC, Women's Day, Better Homes and Gardens, Muscle and Fitness Hers, and Health Magazine.

The author states the purpose of this book is to help people suffering unnecessary persistent pain by providing them with the knowledge and resources to put them back in control of their own body and understand how the body perceives pain. Overall this purpose is achieved. The book begins by introducing what persistent pain is, and briefly discusses the current state of pain management in the United States. In support of the pain concepts she discusses, the author cites works from David Butler, Lorimer Moseley, and Adrian Louw. There are over 170 references cited throughout the book; however, a complete bibliography or reference list would have been helpful at the end of the book.

In the introductory chapters, the author introduces what physical therapy is and does a really nice job of stressing to the reader that we are movement specialists. She also states her opinion on what she thinks makes a "good" and "bad" physical therapist. Perhaps not all PTs would agree on the definition of a bad therapist: less than hour initial evaluation, or if the therapist is asking to see you multiple times a week. Despite this feeling, the author does provide useful tips, like encouraging the reader to see the therapist they want to, not just the one the doctor recommends.

The following 16 chapters consist of real patient examples where the patient came to see her with one complaint, and she helped resolve the complaint by treating a different body part. The layperson can see why certain actions and habits could be the cause of their pain and why past treatments did not work. Each of these chapters ends with the treatments she utilized to resolve the patients' symptoms. These sections are helpful, and the author uses some Pilates and yoga equipment, which may not be readily available in every PT setting. The author reiterates, throughout the book, that these treatments are specific to the individual described in the chapter and are meant to provide examples of treatments that could work, and not meant as a cookbook for treatment.

Overall, this book is clearly written and easy to read but at times seems repetitive. Occasionally, the author uses medical or anatomical terms, always followed with layperson terms. This book would be best utilized as a suggested reference for patients experiencing persistent pain or as an education tool for those needing more insight into how their pain may be coming from a different area of the body.

Christine A. Cabelka, PT, MPT, PhD

Duluth, MN

The author has no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Prostate Recovery MAP Men's Action Plan, 2nd ed, by Craig Allingham. Buderim, Australia: Redsok International; 2014, 64 pages, Distributed by Current Medical Technologies, Inc, $16.95.

This helpful male pelvic floor strengthening program was written by a physiotherapist in Australia who works with elite athletes and also serves as faculty at Bond University Health, Science and Medicine in Australia. He developed an interest in male pelvic health when his father was diagnosed with prostate cancer, and the intention of the book is to minimize incontinence and erectile dysfunction following prostate surgery or radiation. The book is written for the men diagnosed with prostate cancer and the author encourages them to begin this program prior to surgery. The book is well written and easy to follow with specific enough instructions for any man to follow in isolating his pelvic floor muscle, while keeping the anatomy simple. He uses humor and coaching to encourage the reader to "Man up" and reminds them that they are responsible for their own strengthening. Frequently, throughout the book he mentions that the program would be most successful and better performed if the reader had their local physiotherapist instruct them and sites research for one-on-one instruction versus pamphlets to learn.

The home program is divided into 5 segments/level of difficulty (each in a separate chapter), with specific instructions at the end of each level of how many repetitions must be worked up prior to continuing onto the next level of difficulty. All of the instructions in the book also have YouTube videos available to watch, which are sited in each chapter. Level 1 is recommended to work on prior to surgery and is mastering the technique of isolating the pelvic floor muscles including endurance training. Research is referenced supporting presurgery exercise. Level 2 is power training to control leakage under pressure by incorporating fast twitch and sustained hold contractions. Level 3 is bladder training to increase volume and time between emptying. Level 4 is integration of pelvic floor expertise into other daily activities and exercises. There is instruction in training fast twitch muscles to switch on just prior to lifting, coughing, and sneezing. Finally, level 5 is masterclass training for the unexpected situations with exercises such as planks, curl-ups, and squats with use of pelvic floor muscles.

Throughout the book the author discusses importance of good nutrition, water consumption, avoiding bladder irritants, and minimizing abdominal girth. He addresses erectile dysfunction, masculinity, and provides good suggestions for recovery. The end of the book sites support groups, web sites, other books to read and the links for many YouTube demonstration videos.

I would recommend purchasing of the book for any man diagnosed with prostate cancer or stress urinary incontinence. Having a copy in the clinic would be useful to allow patients to flip through it and encourage them to purchase to work with the therapist's individuated program. It also provides useful information for therapists looking for new exercise instruction ideas or needing more guidance in working with male incontinence.

Cheryl Wisinski, PT, DPT, WCS

Louisville, NE

The author has no conflicts of interest to disclose.

It's No Accident: Breakthrough Solutions to Your Child's Wetting, Constipation, UTIs, and Other Potty Problems by Steve J. Hodges and Suzanne Schlosberg. Guilford, CT: Globe Pequot Press; 2012, soft bound, 233 pages, $16.95.

Dr Steve Hodges is a board-certified pediatric urologist and associate professor of urology at Wake Forest School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. In addition to this book, Dr Hodges has published many peer-reviewed journal articles, which can be found on the Wake Forest School of Medicine Web site. Dr Hodges also has an active multimedia presence with a patient care-centered Web site, YouTube videos, and Twitter account. He and his wife have 3 young girls.

Suzanne Schlosberg is a ghost writer who has published numerous books as a primary and co-author as well as articles, papers, and blogs that cover a wide array of health care topics. Her topic specialties include "behavior-change, health, and parenting" and numerous examples of these publications can be found on her Web site. She is a mother of 2 boys and lives in Bend, Oregon.

The book is comprised of 10 chapters as well as an introduction and index. The introduction showcases a pediatric patient case as well as a brief glimpse into the epidemiology of pediatric constipation, bladder and pelvic floor issues, and urinary tract infections. Several useful charts, tables, and cartoons are interspersed throughout the text.

The authors provide an accurate and comprehensive introduction to the "epidemic" of pediatric incontinence as well as urinary urgency and frequency, painful voiding, and constipation. Information provided is supported by relevant although sometimes dated references. Common contributing factors to bladder and bowel issues and recommended strategies for treatment are also addressed in-depth. Dr Hodges strongly believes that constipation is the root of most cases of bladder issues and this message is repeated frequently throughout the text. Recommendations for treatment include physical therapy, pharmacology, and nutrition and behavior modifications. One of the treatment recommendations includes a perineal hygiene product designed and marketed by Dr Hodges and his colleagues. This product does not appear to be on the market any longer and the Web site provided in the text is inactive.

The writing style is casual with an emphasis on using humor and repetition of key points to educate parents and assist them in navigating a difficult topic. The authors are skilled at destigmatizing pediatric bowel and bladder issues and use funny and descriptive analogies to describe otherwise complex anatomy and pathophysiology. The numerous reminders listed within each chapter not only help the reader understand the information but suggest specific tables and content to review in case the topic is not yet well understood.

This book is a good resource for parents with children experiencing bowel or bladder issues, but as mentioned by the authors, is not a substitute for treatment by a health care professional. While the information is made easy to understand and utilize, strategies such as pelvic floor exercise are likely more accurate when performed after assessment by a skilled physical therapist (PT) with experience in treating pediatric bowel and bladder issues. The book may be a good resource for a PT new to this area of treatment, but likely does not provide new information for the experienced PT.

I would recommend this book as a parent resource, especially to reinforce strategies and exercises that are being employed under the guidance of PT. I would also recommend this to PTs currently treating this population, who are looking for additional resources for patient education and new strategies for educating parents and their children.

Jennifer Miller, PT, DPT, CLT, WCS

St Louis, MO

The author has no conflicts of interest to disclose.