'Cure Back Pain: 80 Personalized Easy Exercises'
By: Jean-François Harvey
(Paperback / Robert Rose / 256 pages / $24.95)
Description: Using the latest advances in the science of movement, this book offers the unique and innovative Spinal Training method to help prevent and alleviate back pain. And in addition to strengthening your back, Spinal Training will also improve your posture, eliminate tension, reduce your stress response and diminish pain.
Verdict: Personally, after three (3) back surgeries and a broken left ankle that still shifts my lower back weight from good, to bad, to ugly some days, this new book was a Blessed dream to have arrive - let alone for review! Drawing from Pilates, yoga, physical therapy and others and based on the principles of osteopathy, biomechanics and kinesiology, 'Cure Back Pain: 80 Personalized Easy Exercises' incorporates a well-documented (and most times frowned upon by surgeons - of course) holistic approach to curing your/our back pain.
We all know, especially those that suffer from back pain (or pain of any kind, really) that there are tons of treatments aimed at alleviating back pain. Indeed, according to the latest research, most all of the suggestions incorporated within this new book are methods that really work. Ergo, en masse of these suggestions inside make it possible for effective and gentle work to be done on the areas that are the most important for reducing back pain and enhancing good posture for a healthy back.
Full-color throughout with lavish and clear illustrations of the back's anatomy, this book features step-by-step photos with 80 exercise routines that meet the requirements for a healthy back. These routines can be customized with the self-assessment exercise provided. Thus the exercises can focus precisely on each person's specific needs and desired outcome.
For me, given my aforementioned back surgeries, the Spinal Training method section was of high importance to me. That said, it can be used by anyone, regardless of age or fitness level, or whether it is an actual acute spinal injury / pain you are feeling. Each training plan can be individually adapted to the nature of the specific pain, for any type of posture, degree of flexibility, muscle strength, or the time available to regain normal back strength.
Whether the goal is to simply maintain a healthy and happy back or to reduce and eliminate pain, this books offers the right tools to make the back feel better, no matter what the condition may be. As for who wrote it, well, Jean-François Harvey, BSc, DO, is a kinesiogist, a respected osteopath and an athlete. He has been studying back-related issues for more than 25 years and is a professor of osteopathy.
www.robertrose.ca