Acknowledgements

How long is a generation? As we two authors are about to shut our laptops on Edition 5, Volume 2, we reflect on the longer arc of the privilege and opportunity this book has afforded us. Clinical Sports Medicine was conceived in 1991 (OK Peter, I admit it was your idea. I have never denied that and yes, now it’s in print—K2). In 2019, we have 28 years of thanks to give to over 500 contributors to five editions and what is essentially six books now. That’s a generation of sport and exercise medicine clinicians and scientists; a female generation is currently 25.5 years. Note that we have become more evidence-based as we have aged—lifelong learners! The first edition of Clinical Sports Medicine had zero references and the authors had three publications between them (3 and 0, respectively).

We thank those who went far with us on what we hope has been a worthwhile journey over the 28 years. Some have been part of the Clinical Sports Medicine convoy from day 0 — a dinner at Sukhothai Restaurant in Johnston Street, Collingwood, Melbourne. Others joined later and provided one or more of those pearls that are so valued by the clinicians we speak to the world over. We thank every contributor on behalf of every clinician who has flicked through the pages of Clinical Sports Medicine to help the patient either in front of them or just out of sight.

For this fifth edition, Volume 2: The Medicine of Exercise, specific thanks go to the 53 chapter co-authors listed, with their affiliations, on pages xxix–xxxi. Because we wanted the world expert in every area to contribute to that chapter, very few authors contributed more than one chapter. That is a strength of this book—many subspecialist authors had their work woven together. The beauty of writing Volume 1 and Volume 2 across two years meant that we two authors could focus on the ‘medicine of exercise’ in a way that was impossible in a one-volume book. That’s a compelling case for going far more slowly but ultimately with more support—more co-authors—than in the four single-volume editions. This two-volume edition brings you 48 and 40 chapters (88 in total) with 200 chapter authors—almost twice the number that built the 4th edition.

When one goes far together there is scope for all generations to contribute. The young bring curiosity, passion, vigour and stamina as well as innovation and facility with technology and platforms. We thank and applaud clinicians Paul Blazey (sports physiotherapy) and Daniel Friedman (medicine) for being editors across all chapters in Volume 2. You made 2018 not only productive but also a rich year in our lives. We often hear emerging talents thanking ‘mentors’—here we spell out the reciprocity of our relationship. We learned many things from you, and you introduced us to scintillating people who enliven our community. We will follow your bright trajectories with joy.

Taking the long view of gratitude again, we authors have been privileged to work in our vocation. Being a clinician is a gift, and being researchers and teachers as well means we are triply fortunate. We thank those who trusted us to be so privileged in university, college (e.g. Australasian College of Sport and Exercise Physicians), journal, media and sport team/federation settings. We hope we have lived up to the expectations of those who punted on us.

One closing paragraph on our first and very special Volume 2: The Medicine of Exercise. We thank all of you who had the vision that exercise and physical activity truly is the polypill. You kept working to test your hypothesis—that exercise is medicine—with equipoise. You are unsung heroes who demonstrated the benefits of exercise across organ systems (cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological) and in various populations (older people and kids, those living with diseases/disorders, those with disabilities, those who are marginalised). You are working in knowledge translation, implementation and scale-up. You provided the bedrock for this volume.

We are grateful to all those who have trusted us—patients and athletes, coaches, colleagues, trainees, readers. We are grateful to have been entrusted with leadership positions with their privileges and responsibility. Our simple hope is that we have added value to our remarkable community that goes far to help patients and athletes 24/7 and 365. A community that allows the world to benefit from physical activity, exercise and sport.