Preface<br >Whether you are a weekend amateur or professional athlete， you<br >run the risk of suffering one of the 17 million injuries per year in the<br >United States that cost an estimated $40 billion in medical ex-<br >penses. The skillful use of acupressure can free you from useless<br >pain and high medical costs. It can help you relax， extend your<br >limits and reach your performance goals. With acupressure， your<br >finger can become a powerful tool to increase your abilities as an<br >athlete.<br > The beauty of acupressure is that you can begin to use it<br >immediately after an injury. It is a very safe self-help method，<br >which cannot harm you or be overdone. It costs you nothing to use<br >and can be done anywhere and anytime you choose.<br > For years I searched for a well-illustrated， easy-to-follow man-<br >ual that would make acupressure available to athletes. Not finding<br >one， I have written this book. The research has been a wonderful<br >learning experience. Now I want to share the infi)nnation with all<br >who are interested in improving their health.<br > Even though the statistics on acupuncture are extensive， the<br >studies on acupressure are really just beginning. I encourage<br >athletes， trainers， coaches， physicians and scientists to explore，<br >use and document the effectiveness of acupressure. The more<br >information becomes available， the easier it will be to chart the<br >success of acupressure in improving performance and treating<br >injuries.<br > Have more fun playing--treat yourself!<br >