End Back and Neck Pain …. a useful guide and knowledge base.
Do you suffer from (lower) back pain, have “pain in the neck” or upper back?
A lot of Pilates clients, either group Pilates class participants or One-to-One Class participants join us for that reason. They want to tackle back issues, sometimes it’s simply a stiff back – sometimes it’s so extreme that that they had days or even weeks in the past when they couldn’t even get out of bed.
Physios, Osteopaths, Physical Therapists, Chiropractors and GPs recommend Pilates regularly to their clients – depending what they perceive to be the issue – they say it would be good to do a Pilates group class or a few one-to-one Pilates sessions.
I generally think that you have to find out what works for you, this might be teaming with a Physical Therapist or for others it might be going to a Chiropractor (I’m not that keen on Chiropractic – just from what I have heard from clients and from my own personal experience). The success rate seems also to depend on what kind of expertise the therapist you go to has in relation to your particular back issue and if she or he treated they same issue already five times in the last two week. Meaning you have to have a bit of luck as well in relation to the choice of your therapist.
Why I’m writing all this? Because I came across the following book:
“End Back & Neck Pain” from Human Kinetics.
[amazon-product bordercolor=”FFFFF” align=”center”]0736095284[/amazon-product]
Human Kinetics publishes mainly health, fitness and sports related books and I would generally recommend them.
Here a brief book summary from what I understand the book is all about, I haven’t read the book itself.
- Identifying and Understanding Spinal – Back Pain
- Relief and Preventative Actions you can take.
- Short Term Relief Techniques as a First Aid Option
- Back – Spinal Stretches and relevant Back Exercises
(some of them are most likely to be Pilates and or Core Strength Exercises). - Lifestyle Changes and Choices to ease Back Pain
- Self-Treatment Options are reviewed
- Identifying and Finding they right Physician – Doctor
- Deciding if it is worth while taking medication
- Worst Case Scenario – Exploring the Surgical Option
The book helps you to answer some of the following questions:
- Why does my back or neck hurt?
- What can I do now to alleviate my discomfort?
- How do I prevent my pain from returning?
- Could I have a serious or debilitating condition?
- Is my doctor properly diagnosing my condition?
- Is surgery really my best option?
There is even a “Spine Pain Test” questionnaire available online at Amazon’s “Click to look inside” facility, it’s page 8 of the preview.
The book seems to focus on empowering the person with back pain and issues rather handing the responsibility over to the therapist or GP. I think this is definitely the right way to go about it – educate yourself in the area of back pain – management and prevention, learn about it and then make a decision on what is most likely to be the best way forwards for you and last but not least take action.
Let me know if you find these kind of fitness and health related book reviews and previews useful.
Yours in Health and Fitness
Martin
Table of Contents:
Part I Why Does It Hurt?
Chapter 1. Understanding Back and Neck Pain
Chapter 2. Listening to the Voices of Pain
Part II Helping Yourself
Chapter 3. Using First Aid for Fast Relief
Chapter 4. Stretching and Exercising
Chapter 5. Making Lifestyle Choices to Ease Pain
Chapter 6. Learning Correct Body Mechanics
Chapter 7. Adapting Office Ergonomics
Part III Working With Your Doctor
Chapter 8. Choosing a Doctor
Chapter 9. Getting the Right Diagnosis
Chapter 10. Taking Medication for Spinal Pain
Part IV Exploring Surgical Options
Chapter 11. Getting Injections for Spinal Pain
Chapter 12. Considering Surgery
