Product Description

This is a self-help manual focusing on back pain prevention and rehabilitation using the unique Pilates body conditioning system. 3 in 5 of us will suffer from backache in our lives. In order to mitigate against the worst-case scenario, use Pilates to strengthen your back and also the supporting muscles so that it doesn't take all the strain. Pilates has a strong reputation in tackling back problems and many doctors, osteopaths and physiotherapists are already endorsing its unique quality to exercise deeply but gently and to rebalance the posture (many are opening Pilates centres in their surgeries). "The Back Book" is a one-stop reference guide, explaining how the back works, why backache occurs, the different types of back pain, when to seek professional help, lifestyle tips for prevention and exercises to promote flexibility and hold the correct posture. For those already suffering, a special remedial programme of exercises is designed to restore mobility. With brand new exercises and the expertise of Paul Massey, Chief Physiotherapist to Britain's Olympic Swimming team, leading Pilates practitioner, Lynne Robinson can help you bypass or overcome this most common of agonies.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3639 in Books
• Published on: 2002-03-22
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 239 pages

Review
Ever since we stood upright and walked out of the African savannah we have been paying the price in back pain, countless lost hours of productivity and days spent being unable to lead a normal, healthy life because of chronic back problems. Paradoxically the solution is within easy grasp but, and here's the caveat, it's far from easy. This book begins by examining the reasons why back problems should occur in the first instance. By identifying the reasons the authors are then in the perfect position to begin to offer solutions. This book's superiority to any other lies in the fact that it tackles habitual postural problems which become the cause of backache and lower back problems as well as giving the more common advice you'd expect about not tackling some tasks or forms of exercise without adequate preparation. The beauty of this approach lies in the fact that even if you haven't got time to start doing all the exercises you can begin correcting some of the causes of chronic backache pretty well immediately. The book divides its approach to practical, manageable chunks of explanation and exercise. Because its authors are practitioners of what they preach and because they also run their own classes they're aware that each of us is different and will have a different approach to the problem. As a result they stop short of being prescriptive. Their initial chapters which deal with an analysis of backache and pain are practical, informative and concise. Each subsequent chapter which presents an exercise comes with full instructions, sufficient illustrations and an explanation about its particular benefits. The approach is refreshing and lacking in judgement. The watchpoints included in some of the chapters alert you to what you could be doing wrong and the action plan wants to make you get up from the couch and start exercising your body immediately. If you have time and money to go to pilates classes regularly then this book will give you a good grounding before you start and be a firm follow-up after each class. Even if not, if you're serious about doing something about preventing (or even stopping) back pain in its tracks, then this is a book you simply can't afford not to read. (Kirkus UK)

Synopsis
This is a self-help manual focusing on back pain prevention and rehabilitation using the unique Pilates body conditioning system. 3 in 5 of us will suffer from backache in our lives. In order to mitigate against the worst-case scenario, use Pilates to strengthen your back and also the supporting muscles so that it doesn't take all the strain. Pilates has a strong reputation in tackling back problems and many doctors, osteopaths and physiotherapists are already endorsing its unique quality to exercise deeply but gently and to rebalance the posture (many are opening Pilates centres in their surgeries). "The Back Book" is a one-stop reference guide, explaining how the back works, why backache occurs, the different types of back pain, when to seek professional help, lifestyle tips for prevention and exercises to promote flexibility and hold the correct posture. For those already suffering, a special remedial programme of exercises is designed to restore mobility. With brand new exercises and the expertise of Paul Massey, Chief Physiotherapist to Britain's Olympic Swimming team, leading Pilates practitioner, Lynne Robinson can help you bypass or overcome this most common of agonies.

About the Author
Lynne Robinson's 4 Telstar videos and 8 previous books (including the Official Body Control Pilates Manual and Pilates Gym) have sold in their hundreds of thousands. Helge Fisher is also a founding member of the Body Control team, and teaches Pilates and Alexander Technique. Paul Massey is Chief Physiotherapist to the British Olympic Swimming team.

Customer Reviews

Pilates highly recommended
This book is very easy to read and follow. It not only shows you exercises that I found really helped my back pain, but it also has information on how the body works and why you might be getting back pain. I was using a DVD but found it was going a bit fast for me to follow, with this book you can go at your own pace and you can see all the different exercises that might help your back and do the ones you feel most comfortable with.

If you have back problems I would highly recommend Pilates. I had back pain for 2 years and found Pilates gentle and easy to do and really helped. Pilates are stretching exercises that help to strengthen and relax your back.

Highly recommended book.