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Our Medical Advisors have selected several books and provided reviews to help you make an informed selection. Some of these books have been written or edited by our Medical Advisors.To purchase a book, click on the underlined title and it will link you the appropriate page on Amazon.com to order the book.
The Arthritis Handbook: Improve Your Health and Manage the Pain of Osteoarthritis
By Grant Cooper, MD
According to conventional wisdom, arthritis pain is an inevitable part of aging. Not so, says Dr. Grant Cooper in this practical, accessible guide. For those who do develop osteoarthritic conditions, this book offers a blend of commonsense advice, dietary info, targeted exercise, tips on useful supplements and detailed information about medication, injection and surgical treatment options.
By Grant Cooper, MD
According to conventional wisdom, arthritis pain is an inevitable part of aging. Not so, says Dr. Grant Cooper in this practical, accessible guide. For those who do develop osteoarthritic conditions, this book offers a blend of commonsense advice, dietary info, targeted exercise, tips on useful supplements and detailed information about medication, injection and surgical treatment options.
Back
Pain Remedies for Dummies
By Michael S. Sinel, MD and William W. Deardorff, PhD
As with other books in the "for Dummies" series, this book offers an easy-to-read (sometimes even fun to read) overview of a broad range of information and advice. It includes medical information, and helpful and practical tips, such as how to work with your doctor, adopt a healthy posture, choose a back pain-related product, and decide whether or not to have back surgery.
By Michael S. Sinel, MD and William W. Deardorff, PhD
As with other books in the "for Dummies" series, this book offers an easy-to-read (sometimes even fun to read) overview of a broad range of information and advice. It includes medical information, and helpful and practical tips, such as how to work with your doctor, adopt a healthy posture, choose a back pain-related product, and decide whether or not to have back surgery.
Preparing
for Surgery
By William W. Deardorff, PhD, and John L. Reeves II, PhD
This book provides "a mind-body approach to enhance healing and recovery" by providing a series of guidelines to help patients prepare for and cope with their surgery in order to enhance the experience and outcomes. Its format as a workbook helps support the goal of actively involving the patient and fostering a sense of control throughout the process of preparing for and recovering from surgery.
By William W. Deardorff, PhD, and John L. Reeves II, PhD
This book provides "a mind-body approach to enhance healing and recovery" by providing a series of guidelines to help patients prepare for and cope with their surgery in order to enhance the experience and outcomes. Its format as a workbook helps support the goal of actively involving the patient and fostering a sense of control throughout the process of preparing for and recovering from surgery.
Treat
Your Own Back
By Robin McKenzie, PT
In this book, Robin McKenzie describes his active exercise program known as the McKenzie method. Since the 1970’s, the McKenzie method has been a very popular physical therapy program and continues to be the preferred method of many physical therapists across the U.S. for treatment of low back pain and sciatica. The book is well written and does a good job of explaining and demonstrating the specific exercises for self-care of low back pain.
By Robin McKenzie, PT
In this book, Robin McKenzie describes his active exercise program known as the McKenzie method. Since the 1970’s, the McKenzie method has been a very popular physical therapy program and continues to be the preferred method of many physical therapists across the U.S. for treatment of low back pain and sciatica. The book is well written and does a good job of explaining and demonstrating the specific exercises for self-care of low back pain.
Treat
Your Own Neck
By Robin McKenzie, PT
This book is the neck pain management corollary to "Treat Your Own Back" in which Robin McKenzie describes his active exercise program known as the McKenzie method. Again, the book is well written, includes an overview of common causes of neck pain, and does a good job of explaining and demonstrating the specific exercises for self-care of neck pain.
By Robin McKenzie, PT
This book is the neck pain management corollary to "Treat Your Own Back" in which Robin McKenzie describes his active exercise program known as the McKenzie method. Again, the book is well written, includes an overview of common causes of neck pain, and does a good job of explaining and demonstrating the specific exercises for self-care of neck pain.
The
Arthritis Helpbook – A Tested Self-Management Program for Coping with
Arthritis and Fibromyalgia
By Kate Lorig, RN, Dr. PH, James Fries, MD
This book is an excellent educational resource for people suffering from arthritic conditions. The authors do a good job of explaining how arthritis conditions (such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and fibromyalgia) cause pain. The objective of the book is to help the reader become and "arthritis self-manager". Through education, the authors hope to enable the reader with arthritis to lead a healthier, more active lifestyle with less pain. Because there is no cure for many of these chronic conditions, patients need to find ways to manage their condition, and education about treatment options is a key component to this management.
By Kate Lorig, RN, Dr. PH, James Fries, MD
This book is an excellent educational resource for people suffering from arthritic conditions. The authors do a good job of explaining how arthritis conditions (such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and fibromyalgia) cause pain. The objective of the book is to help the reader become and "arthritis self-manager". Through education, the authors hope to enable the reader with arthritis to lead a healthier, more active lifestyle with less pain. Because there is no cure for many of these chronic conditions, patients need to find ways to manage their condition, and education about treatment options is a key component to this management.
Golfers
Take Care of Your Back
By Florence Kendall, PT, Susan McKinley Carpenter, PT
This book is easy-to-read and provides good illustrations that introduce golfers to proper body posture and exercises to protect the back from injury. It is an instructive tool that should help golfers improve their game and play with less back pain. Overall, the book is very useful to enhance a golfer’s enjoyment of the game.
By Florence Kendall, PT, Susan McKinley Carpenter, PT
This book is easy-to-read and provides good illustrations that introduce golfers to proper body posture and exercises to protect the back from injury. It is an instructive tool that should help golfers improve their game and play with less back pain. Overall, the book is very useful to enhance a golfer’s enjoyment of the game.
A
Healthy Back – A Sports Medicine Doctor’s Back Care Program for
Everybody
By Lewis Maharam, MD
Doctor Maharam is a sports medicine specialist who has studied back biomechanics. In his book, he recommends specific exercises for specific sports, explains the rationale for the exercises, and provides good illustrations on how they should be done. Doctor Maharam’s recommendations are targeted at relieving stress to the low back so that individuals can still actively participate and enjoy specific sporting activities.
By Lewis Maharam, MD
Doctor Maharam is a sports medicine specialist who has studied back biomechanics. In his book, he recommends specific exercises for specific sports, explains the rationale for the exercises, and provides good illustrations on how they should be done. Doctor Maharam’s recommendations are targeted at relieving stress to the low back so that individuals can still actively participate and enjoy specific sporting activities.
Back
Care Basics – A Doctor’s Gentle Yoga Program for Back and Neck
Pain Relief
By Mary Pullig Schatz, MD
The author is a physician who had suffered from chronic back pain and then found yoga as a means to eliminate the pain. She not only explains the anatomy of the back and various causes of back pain, but also how yoga can help eliminate the pain. The mind and body work together to help restrictive tissues get better through relaxation techniques, stretching and strengthening. It not only helps the body heal, but helps the patient recover from the psychological effects of pain and disability. The book is well written and includes many illustrations and photos.
By Mary Pullig Schatz, MD
The author is a physician who had suffered from chronic back pain and then found yoga as a means to eliminate the pain. She not only explains the anatomy of the back and various causes of back pain, but also how yoga can help eliminate the pain. The mind and body work together to help restrictive tissues get better through relaxation techniques, stretching and strengthening. It not only helps the body heal, but helps the patient recover from the psychological effects of pain and disability. The book is well written and includes many illustrations and photos.
The
Back Pain Book – A Self-Help Guide for Daily Relief of Neck and Back
Pain
By Mike Hage, MS, PT
Written as a self-help guide for those who suffer from low back and neck pain, the book provides clear explanations and excellent illustrations on body posture and ergonomics. The book starts out with an overview on the structural components of the spine and how they can cause pain, followed by a chapter on self-help tips on techniques to relieve pain. The next two chapters focus on correct and incorrect body posture and ergonomics for multiple activities. The final section of the book gives specific advice on stretching, strengthening and aerobic exercises.
By Mike Hage, MS, PT
Written as a self-help guide for those who suffer from low back and neck pain, the book provides clear explanations and excellent illustrations on body posture and ergonomics. The book starts out with an overview on the structural components of the spine and how they can cause pain, followed by a chapter on self-help tips on techniques to relieve pain. The next two chapters focus on correct and incorrect body posture and ergonomics for multiple activities. The final section of the book gives specific advice on stretching, strengthening and aerobic exercises.
Back
in Shape – A Back Owner’s Manual
By Stephen H. Hochschuler, MD
This book is a very good primer that covers spinal anatomy, common causes of back pain and several chapters on self-care, prevention and living a back-healthy lifestyle. It includes a broad range of exercises, demonstrated by former Ms. Olympia female bodybuilder, Cory Everson. The book is written in an easily understandable, very positive tone and is especially useful for practical tips regarding exercises, sports, making your job and home a back-friendly environment and first aid for a back sprain.
By Stephen H. Hochschuler, MD
This book is a very good primer that covers spinal anatomy, common causes of back pain and several chapters on self-care, prevention and living a back-healthy lifestyle. It includes a broad range of exercises, demonstrated by former Ms. Olympia female bodybuilder, Cory Everson. The book is written in an easily understandable, very positive tone and is especially useful for practical tips regarding exercises, sports, making your job and home a back-friendly environment and first aid for a back sprain.
Treat
Your Back without Surgery – The best non-surgical alternatives to
Eliminating Back and Neck Pain
By Stephen H. Hochschuler, MD, Bob Reznick
This book is easy-to-read and provides a useful overview of a wide variety of non-surgical treatments for back and neck pain. It includes an overview of self-care and prevention (including illustrations of exercises), conservative care (such as physical therapy and chiropractic), and a number of alternative therapies (such as Tai Chi and acupuncture). It also provides some useful guidelines on what to expect from your doctor and if, when and how you should consider back surgery.
By Stephen H. Hochschuler, MD, Bob Reznick
This book is easy-to-read and provides a useful overview of a wide variety of non-surgical treatments for back and neck pain. It includes an overview of self-care and prevention (including illustrations of exercises), conservative care (such as physical therapy and chiropractic), and a number of alternative therapies (such as Tai Chi and acupuncture). It also provides some useful guidelines on what to expect from your doctor and if, when and how you should consider back surgery.
Back
Pain Sourcebook
By Stephanie Levin-Gervasi, James Zucherman
Written by a back pain patient for back pain patients, this book is thoroughly researched and provides a comprehensive overview of low back pain. The book covers a variety of topics, including spinal anatomy, common conditions that cause back pain, the full range of common conservative, surgical and alternative treatment options, and prevention. It is written in a straightforward, understandable manner, and the author clearly has had first hand experience with the subject matter.
By Stephanie Levin-Gervasi, James Zucherman
Written by a back pain patient for back pain patients, this book is thoroughly researched and provides a comprehensive overview of low back pain. The book covers a variety of topics, including spinal anatomy, common conditions that cause back pain, the full range of common conservative, surgical and alternative treatment options, and prevention. It is written in a straightforward, understandable manner, and the author clearly has had first hand experience with the subject matter.
Back
Pain – How to Relieve Low Back Pain and Sciatica
By Loren Fishman, MD
Doctor Fishman is a specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (a Physiatrist) and is on the faculty at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. His book is intelligently written and provides a very comprehensive review of causes of back pain and diagnostic and treatment options. While it is written for patients, it is also complete enough for medical professionals to use. The book has fewer illustrations and less practical advice for day-to-day activities than many of the other books profiled here, but has much more factual, in-depth information for patients and is very useful for people who want to take a more active role in researching and managing their own care.
By Loren Fishman, MD
Doctor Fishman is a specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (a Physiatrist) and is on the faculty at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. His book is intelligently written and provides a very comprehensive review of causes of back pain and diagnostic and treatment options. While it is written for patients, it is also complete enough for medical professionals to use. The book has fewer illustrations and less practical advice for day-to-day activities than many of the other books profiled here, but has much more factual, in-depth information for patients and is very useful for people who want to take a more active role in researching and managing their own care.
The
Low Back Pain Handbook – A Practical Guide for the Primary Care Physician
By Andrew J. Cole, MD, Stanley A. Herring, MD
As the title indicates, this textbook is written for primary care physicians who diagnose and treat back pain. For those of you who want to read a very comprehensive medical overview of the causes of back pain, diagnostic tests and treatment options, this book is very well written (if you’re OK with medical writing) and includes chapters from a number of spine specialists.
By Andrew J. Cole, MD, Stanley A. Herring, MD
As the title indicates, this textbook is written for primary care physicians who diagnose and treat back pain. For those of you who want to read a very comprehensive medical overview of the causes of back pain, diagnostic tests and treatment options, this book is very well written (if you’re OK with medical writing) and includes chapters from a number of spine specialists.
Would you like to see any other books reviewed? Please contact us and let us know.
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