Spine Stablization, Strengthening, Fitness Books -- Which have you read?

[Carson]

I'm looking for good books on spine health and strengthening and wanted to ask what you all have read, are thinking of reading and what you would recommend in way of Spine Fitness books.

Whether they are books on core strengthening, yoga, swiss ball workouts, pilates, etc, I'm curious as to what you've read, what you recommend and what type of exercises are best keeping our spines stable. Thanks.

[Cindylou]

Carson, an incredible book I read and utilized years ago I would highly recommend: Pain Free by Pete Egoscue. He has 4 books out now and a clinic somewhere I believe in California. Another book of his I have not read, but has received huge accolades is The Egoscue Method of Health thru Motion: Revolutionary Program That Let's You Rediscover The Body's Power To Rejuvenate It.

No telling where the first book is, in a box somewhere, since we moved. But I'm gonna dig it out or buy another copy. I also just received those 2 books Hooch recommended, but can't comment yet as I haven't opened them up yet. One looks more user-friendly than the other. These are both books by Stuart McGill, PhD: Ultimate Back Fitness and Performance, 4th edition; and Low Back Disorders.

[Gilbert P]

Hi C.L.

I am happy you are getting stronger meds for now.

The Pain Relief, Back Pain Relief | Egoscue Inc. is a very interesting site.

I would love to try this no clinics even remotely close to were we live

Gil

[Hooch]

The two McGill books and Spinal Stabilisation: The new science of back pain by Jemmet. I would recommend buying the Jemmet book as it is up to date, comprehensive and very easy to read. Plus I've read a few I got off amazon that are poor.

Really tho reading this stuff is a good adjunct you likely need to be in a program or one on with a quality physio to get the benefits of this, you just can't substitute good clinical experience. Doing that reading will help you pick out the charlatans however.

Of course this stuff only goes so far in reducing pain and increasing function, but if the muscles are inactive or you are using faulty body mechanics it will help to some degree.

[Carson]

Thanks very much for the recommendations, CL and Hooch

Not an easy task going through the available selection of books out there. Amazon allows you to read several pages of a given book pre-purchase and seems like an ocean of mediocre books available written primarily by physios in search of supplemental income so wise to be careful. Really important for spine patients to avoid bad or overly generalized exercise instruction.

I'll check those mentioned and ordered New Science of Back Pain. Reads like a solid book in the into.

I have McGill's DVD: The Ultimate Back - Assessment and Theraputic Exercise and, as mentioned above, while it provides a good look at how the exercises are done and what McGill aims to achieve, spine sparing exercises, it is clearly meant for instructors as opposed to patients (but could surely be beneficial to patients). And clearly just a supplment to the McGill books. Good stuff.