Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #69868 in Books
• Published on: 2003-10-09
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 132 pages

Synopsis
Based on results from scientific research, this volume offers back pain sufferers a series of simple excercises that target muscles that have been identified as being a common source of back pain. Line illustrations accompany each exercise. Physical therapist Jim Johnson reviewed the double-blind back-pain studies published since 1987, and found that it suggested a specific set of muscles played a key role in the majority of back pain. It showed 90 per cent of back pain sufferers have underdeveloped multifidus muscles. If these muscles are weak, inflamed or in spasm, they can cause chronic back pain. In response to these findings he devised a simple set of exercises that focus on strengthening these muscles - and had good results with his patients. This book is the result.

About the Author
Jim Johnson, P.T., is a physical therapist who has spent over eighteen years treating both inpatients and outpatients with a wide range of pain and mobility problems. He has written many books based completely on published research and controlled trials including Treat Your Own Knees, The Sixty-Second Motivator, Treat Your Own Rotator Cuff, The 5-Minute Plantar Fasciitis Solution, Finding Happiness in a Frustrating World, and Exercise Beats Depression. His books have been translated into other languages and thousands of copies have been sold worldwide. Besides working full-time as a clinician in a large teaching hospital and writing books, Jim Johnson is a certified Clinical Instructor by the American Physical Therapy Association and enjoys teaching physical therapy students from all over the United States.

Customer Reviews

Chiropractors beware!!
Firstly I have never written or e-mailed any author before and I am taking time out to do this because of the remarkable effect this book had on my back pain.

I have suffered from lower back pain for years and have visited numerous chiropractors, all of whom helped in some way in the short term. But if I did not visit regularly (at £25-30 per session) the pain came back, it was about a monthly occurrence. Last July I went with my family on holiday to Spain and the lower back pain kicked in on the second day, probably due to stress and the flight from Gatwick. It was so painful like a ripped muscle and virtually ruined two weeks holiday. Climbing into a canoe, for instance, with my seven year old daughter was excruciating. I felt like a pensioner just walking down the road, every step down a kerb had to be measured or it would send a shooting pain through the lower back. When I got back from Spain I decided to trawl the internet for a solution before booking more chiropractors. I came across this book. I began the excercises in August and I did not want to say anything until I had fully tested them out. I now feel (in November) confident to say I have rarely been troubled with my back since. What trouble I had was easily dealt with by the excercises and gradually even this pain receded. The back feels stronger than ever but you must follow what Jim says exactly and do the excercises initially every two days.
Pity the poor chiropractors if everyone gets to read it!!!!

An excellent book on lower back pain
A well written book that takes great care to methodically explain the scientific basis for some lower back problems and their treatments, with many quotes from peer reviewed scientific papers. Jim Johnson also uses his fairly extensive experience of treating back pain to make the book a readable and practical one rather than just a dry tome.

I read the book (all of it as instructed!) before trying the few simple exercises that are recommended. There has been a definite improvement in back strength in the 3-4 months since I bought it and, more importantly, a reduction in lower back pain. I still get some pain from time to time but it is considerably less.

The key is to follow the exercise plan as laid out in the book and do it regularly. Once you have achieved the desired level of back strength you only need to do the exercises once a week for maintenance of the strength you have built up. However, as soon as you stop them you go back to square one.

I would recommend this book for people who suffer from lower back pain - even if it doesn't help the pain it will probably help you understand what the problem is without being stuck in a particular treatment method like many other books.

it really works
I also have never felt moved before to write a review, but after suffering chronic lower back pain for many years and shelling out thousands of pounds for various 'treatments', I would have to say that the deceptively simple exercises in this book are the only things that have given me lasting relief. The effect were noticeable after a couple of months and while I still get 'twinges' and short-lived episodes of pain, I no longer experience the long lasting and debilitating muscle spasms and loss of mobility that used to afflict me. The book is also beautifully written and the author clearly has a deep understanding of the science involved. Highly recommended!