Treat Your Own Back
by Robin A. McKenzie
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Book Reviews of Treat Your Own Back
Book Review: Worth a try.
Summary: 4 Stars
This book talks a lot about posture and how it can affect your back. Posture suggestions follow. The exercises recommended for most cases of back pain involve a person bending their spine backwards. These are done in the standing and on-your-stomach positions.
One thing I did notice about this back pain book is that it contains no exercises to strengthen your back- which I think is strange as it is well documented in the back literature that people with back pain have smaller than normal back muscles (Parkkola 1993 and Daneels 2000) when examined with CT scans and MRI's as well as weaker than normal back muscles (Smidt 1983 and Mayer 1985 and Mayer 1989 and Roy 1989 and Cassisi 1993). On this basis, I felt that this book was overlooking this important point and should probably address it with at least one strengthening exercise.
Having said that, I think this book will be most helpful for people with back pain that radiates into one or both legs due to a disc problem. People with spinal stenosis or a slippage of one vertebrae over the other (called a spondylolisthesis) will want to be careful with the backward bending motion as this might actually aggravate their pain. Another fix-it-yourself book readers might want to check out is Treat Your Own Spinal Stenosis.
Book Review: I forgot what it was like to not have pain.
Summary: 5 Stars
I too, had referrals from physical therapists to read and follow the instructions of the two books: Treat your own back and neck by Robin Makinzie. I may have spelled his name wrong, but his techniques are perfect. I am telling everyone about this book and have almost stopped taking ibuprofen. After 14 years in emergency services, I couldn't be in any position without pain and I was losing circulation in my hands. My doctor found that my pulse was disappearing in my wrists so he sent me to a physical therapist. I felt better after two days and after two weeks acutally realized that I had gone a whole day without pain. I cried. I had forgotten what it was like to not have pain in my neck, shoulders, and back. I have real things wrong found by the MRI and had been told by one ortho. surgeon to suck it up, this is how will be from now on. I was 38. Another ortho surgeon sent me to this wonderful PT and his first exercise assignment for me was to read these books. I am now buying them for family and friends. I agree with "so good I'm mad." Thankfully, I do know of one very good ortho who still cares rather than cuts and does what he can to help. I hope anyone who reads this will immediatley buy these books. You will not regret it. If one exercise hurts, he has another that won't. Stick with it and in a couple weeks if not sooner, you will be amazed.Book Review: This really works.
Summary: 5 Stars
I have recommended this book countless times. In 1997 I was disabled due to back pain: could barely walk, was on prescription pain meds, muscle relaxers, sleeping pills, couldn't work, couldn't sleep. I saw more drivel on late night/ early morning TV than you can imagine. Someone loaned me this book. I had tried everything: acupuncture, biofeedback, homeopathy, chiropractic, allergy elimination therapy, MRI, x-rays, hospitalization with morphine, Chinese medicine, energy medicine, Reiki, prayer, tobacco pouches, icing, liquid ice, hot tubs, whirlpools, physical therapy...I was in excruciating pain almost all the time. The exercises in this book began to make a difference. The trouble wasn't bones or nerves with me, it was muscles. If only I had known this months earlier I might not have become disabled. It was practicing the exercises in this book exactly as recommended many times every day that began, along with daily Aston Patterning treatments, to slowly resolve the problem. Essential Oils' "Valor" (YLEO) helped me get off all the meds. Now I stretch, ice, and use ibuprofen immediately when my back becomes sore, which is rare these days. I know what to do now to take care of myself right away, thanks to Robin McKenzie!Book Review: Best $10 I've Spent In Awhile
Summary: 5 Stars
I recently hurt my back at the gym trying to deadlift a heavy load off the ground. Because of a couple errors on my part (not adequately warming up to the weight and not paying attention to form on one lift) I ended on the ground with severe back pain. It was crippling. It hurt to breathe. Not one for going to the doctor or loading up on pain killers I decided to see if there were any helpful books on treating back pain. Decided to spend $10 on this book and it was the best self-help purchase I've made.
I'm only on the second day of using the exercises prescribed and feel a noticeable difference in my back. I'm positive it has a lot to do with what this book reveals about back pain and relieving it through exercise. I'm also sure that my healing process would be going a lot slower if I hadn't started the exercises.
As for the author and the book: I enjoyed it because it was short and succinct. That's important for someone who is in pain! I don't agree with those that thought strength exercises should have been included in the book. You can find that information in other literature.
Like I said, best $10 self-help purchase I've ever made.
Book Review: Outstanding Guidance
Summary: 5 Stars
I had a lumbar laminectomy (L5-S1) in 1990. My neurosurgeon was very aggressive in post-operative treatment and had me in physical therapy after two weeks. This book was one of the first things I was given at the clinic. The advice in this book was invaluable in keeping me relatively pain free today at age 41- 17 years after my surgery. I still follow the advice and exercises in this book because the misery of lower back pain is something I remember vividly and want to avoid at all costs. It covers everything from proper body mechanics, preventative exercise, sources of back pain, kinesiology, specific exercises depending on your particular type of pain, and many other topics.
It's important to mention that there are a minority of surgeons who do not subscribe to the McKenzie method so check with your doctor before buying the book. I don't know what their reasoning is but everyone that I went through p.t. with had positive results as a result of aggressive treatment and the information in this book.
I only wish I had this book before my injury got so bad as to require surgery. Get the book.