Backache: What Exercises Work

I am a practicing physician (internal medicine/nephrology), and have recently had the misfortune of needing some help for my back. I perused the back pain section of one of the big book stores, and selected this one. Although it does not, as one reviewer pointed out, go into detailed descriptions of the mechanics of the spine and musculature, in my opinion that sort of detail is unnecessary except to the curious or those who might have very particular problems - problems that would need the continual attention of medical specialists. This book will be fine for the vast majority of people with the most common kinds of back pain. I find the real value in this book to be the graduated approach, with exercises that accomplish the mission without CAUSING or exacerbating back pain. I would even recommend this book to people who are looking for a beginner's exercise regimen, regardless of whether they've ever had back pain. I'll confess that as a specialist, I've often "copped out" and referred patients who mentioned back problems back to their "primary care providers", or told them to "go find a book" because I believed that exercise was the method, but I didn't know the details. Now I do, and I plan to refer many patients with "garden variety" back pain to this book rather than to the primary doc.

I consider myself a quasi back pain expert. I had two herinated discs removed 10 years ago and believed that would be the end of my trouble; it was only the beginning. I have have 4 MRIs, five physical thearpy experiences, have seen othropedic surgeons, neurolists, and a pain specialist for cortezone shots. I currently have another herinated disc and a miscellaneous bulge at the site of the prior two surgeries. This book have provided me more knowledge of how to solve my problems than all the rest combined -- however, having all that experience makes me confident this book has the solution. Many of the exercises I was familar with from physical thearpy over the years. And yes, they told me I'd likely have to do exercises for the rest of my life. And that's what makes this book so handy, you don't have a thearpist with you day in and out, this book is very specific on how to do the exercises, how to progress, and what not to do. The advice is practical and well researched, and very much consistent with everything all the specialists have told me during my decade and a half of back problems. And now the REALLY GOOD News. I noticed improvement within a couple of days of starting the exercises. I have found I have to exercise both morning and night, but I am virtually pain free. I was at a point when I purchased this book, that I woke up every morning with some pain and much activity-limiting stiffness -- and periodically my back would "go out" and I'd spend a couple days in bed recuperating. Now I wake pain free; am able to start my day immediately. I remain careful about how I treat my back throughout the day, but I'm very confident my bed rest days are behind me! And I'm more limber, my balance has improved, as has my flexibility. I recommed this book highly!! The section on how to "find time" was very much appreciated and accurate, there are numerous opportunties throughout the day to do many of the exercises. Do heed what the authors say: PAIN is NO GAIN -- so start slow, be gentle, and don't push, this is not a race, for me - it was about getting my life back. Good luck to all, I can't tell you how thankful I am I found this book, I hope it brings you the same kind of improvement it did me.

I have struggled for years with acute back pain. Reading Sobel & Klein's book gave me the answers I was looking for. After getting X-Rays and an MRI revealing that 4 of my discs were herniated from one degree to another. I made an appointment with a trained physical therapist and we set to work on a plan of stretching & strengthening the key muscles. Bingo! I have never felt better. M.D., Mary Pullig Schatz's "Back Care Basics" is excellent as well with an emphasis on Yoga the mental approach for successful rehabilitation.

I have recommend these exercises to patients, but more importantly, they can benefit anyone who doesn't want to develop back pain in the future. Unfortunately our medical model is one of treatment and not prevention. I agree with another reviewer that consultation with a qualified physician is recommended for any type of chronic severe back pain, but there are very few cases I have seen, including patients who have failed surgical treatment, who have not been helped by some way in using moderate regular exercise. These are great exercises to reverse the effects that our sedentary working society foists upon us. I recommend this book strongly but emphasize the importance of dispensing with the "pain-gain" concept and embracing the a-little-bit-every-day-in-a-consistent-manner-without-pushing-to-discomfort paradigm. Kudos to Dava Sobel and colleagues for an excellent write...May I recommend "The Care and Feeding of Your Brain" as a companion book for helping deal the distress, depression, and other cerebral manifestations that accompany chronic pain...All the best!! Kenneth Giuffre MD, author, "The Care and Feeding of Your Brain"

I've tried them all. Every threapy you can think of. Was about to give up and submit to surgery. Got a book club catalog in the mail that included this book. Decided to try once more. One of he best decisions of my life. I could not do one situp or push at the time . . . without back pain. I do 75 pushs a day and hundreds of what the book recommeds for addominal work. Do yourself a favor and get this book. Follow the instructions explicitly. Good luck.