Book excerpt: The case studies in this book use authentic injury assessment examples to help readers link theory and clinical practice with the goal of becoming competent clinicians. The situations are realistic and present more than 130 of the injuries that athletic trainers may encounter in the real world. The questions that accompany the cases ask readers to identify clinical and differential diagnoses, critique the evaluating clinician's actions, recommend treatment, comment on ethical choices, and make many of the decisions they will face in the field. The cases encourage readers to think and problem solve; evidence-based answers (for select cases in the text and for all cases in the instructor's manual) ensure that the recommended clinical decisions are based on the best available research, clinical expertise, and patient preferences rather than on anecdotal practice.