Treat Your Own Knees

  Author:    Jim Johnson
  ISBN:    0897934229
  Sales Rank:    9110
  Published:    2003-10-01
  Publisher:    Hunter House (CA)
  # Pages:    96
  Binding:    Paperback
  Avg. Rating:    5.0 based on 15 reviews
  Used Offers:    9 from $5.92
  Amazon Price:    $8.76
  (Data above last updated:  2008-11-29 01:20:17 EST)
  
  
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Treat Your Own Knees
  
Treat Your Own Knees shows how to reduce or end knee pain by improving knee function. In easy-to-grasp language, author Jim Johnson covers the physiology of the knee and the kinds of pain that affect it, along with the psychological aspects. He offers a series of straightforward exercises based on current medical data and tested in his practice. Black-and-white drawings show exactly how to do the exercises and pinpoint the precise muscles responsible for the problem. This concise, simple guide provides an effective do-it-yourself program.
                  Reader Reviews 1 - 20 of 20                 
  
  
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11-04-08 5 1\1
(Hide Review...)  Good Information
Reviewer Permalink
I bought this book for my husband. He has had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee twice. And has arthritis in both knees. He has a lot of pain and stiffness. After 2 weeks of doing the strengthening exercises in this book, he has more flexibility and less pain. He can get in and out of the tub with less difficulty. He says it is a really great book and reccomends
it to anyone with knee problems. He also says the book is very easy to understand. It explains the way a knee works in terms a non-medical person can understand. Overall a great product.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2008-11-30 02:30:41 EST)
06-19-08 5 2\2
(Hide Review...)  Help Your Knees Heal!!
Reviewer Permalink
I read this book cover to cover and found it most helpful. I don't believe in surgery unless absolutely necessary. This book guides you through all the things to do to improve your own knee health without the surgery. Fantastic!
(Review Data Last Updated: 2008-11-13 02:10:31 EST)
05-23-08 3 (NA)
(Hide Review...)  98 pages too many yet left me wanting more
Reviewer Permalink
After reading the reviews and suffering from knee pain, I decided to buy this book. My expectations were pretty high since all of the reviews were glowing. Perhaps that's where I went wrong.

I was expecting a series of ailments and exercises to help alleviate them. Instead you get one strengthening exercise, a few stretches, one prioperception exercise and a recommendation for some endurance exercise. All of this could have fit onto a single sheet of paper.

Sure the discussion of the studies is interesting but it really doesn't help me treat my knees. By taking the step of buying the book, I already had commited to wanting better knees and the author didn't need to convince me to do exercises or stretch.

All in all, it was a quick read and at ~$10, was less than most people pay for a co-pay. I'd recommend it if you want some general information about knee health and studies but not if you are looking for rehab exercises to get better knees.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2008-06-18 01:23:45 EST)
05-19-08 4 (NA)
(Hide Review...)  Decent book to be read in a single sitting
Reviewer Permalink
This book is okay. I can't complain because its relatively inexpensive otherwise would be 3 stars. Still, I don't find anything truly great about the book. The one nugget of information I did get from the book was that your knee actually rotates your lower leg (we all know it extends and flexes, but the book actually proves to you that your own knees rotate the lower leg as well). Due to the price, I don't mind the purchase. I wouldn't recommend this to any younger readers, I myself am 30 and don't find the 'treatments' all that relevant. I sometimes have mild knee pain that for me seems to be better treated by doing full depth squats (yes, full depth squats, performed properly are good for you and do not hurt your knees).
(Review Data Last Updated: 2008-05-24 01:21:41 EST)
03-24-08 4 2\2
(Hide Review...)  simple,yet effective
Reviewer Permalink
the book is clearly and concisley written.the method prescribed is simple,but effective.i have also read his back pain book .he presents a clear and simple method with dealing with pain in that book also.at first one might say ,is that all there is?;but the proof is in the pudding.if you are diligent and consistent in your efforts,you will be rewarded.in these cases less is more.the author knows his stuff.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2008-05-19 01:22:01 EST)
03-20-08 5 (NA)
(Hide Review...)  Excellent Book
Reviewer Permalink
I've never written an Amazon review before, but this little book impressed me so much that other readers should share its benefits.

I damaged my knee in a motorcycle accident and had recurring pain for two years. A string of hospitals, therapists and acupuncturists were all unable to diagnose, never mind treat, the problem.

Enter Jim Johnson Stage Right>>>

6 weeks after doing only part of the exercises, my knee has stopped locking up and I don't feel any discomfort after playing soccer.

In short: I can't recommend this book highly enough. Well done Mr. Johnson and your team.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2008-03-25 01:23:56 EST)
02-13-08 5 (NA)
(Hide Review...)  make sense
Reviewer Permalink
It is a small book easy to carry around. It is written in a clear and easy to understand way. I bought it for my husband. He liked it.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2008-03-20 01:21:45 EST)
01-21-08 5 (NA)
(Hide Review...)  Cronic Knee Pain In Both Knees
Reviewer Permalink
I highly recommend this book to anyone who has suffered with knee pain. I have problems with both knees and in the past had tried physical therapy. The exercises prescribed by the therapists actually aggravated the problem so I stopped doing them. This book is extremely informative and explains the need for stretching your muscles (something I never did before )as well as doing simple isometric exercises (I was told to do leg lifts which made the knee pain worse). Plus you can do them at your own pace without someone standing over your shoulder pushing you to do more when or if you're not ready. Buy this book and follow what he suggests; you won't be sorry!
(Review Data Last Updated: 2008-01-25 01:25:33 EST)
01-20-08 5 3\3
(Hide Review...)  Cronic Knee Pain In Both Knees
Reviewer Permalink
I highly recommend this book to anyone who has suffered with knee pain. I have problems with both knees and in the past had tried physical therapy. The exercises prescribed by the therapists actually aggravated the problem so I stopped doing them. This book is extremely informative and explains the need for stretching your muscles (something I never did before )as well as doing simple isometric exercises (I was told to do leg lifts which made the knee pain worse). Plus you can do them at your own pace without someone standing over your shoulder pushing you to do more when or if you're not ready. Buy this book and follow what he suggests; you won't be sorry!
(Review Data Last Updated: 2008-02-14 01:24:31 EST)
06-14-07 5 9\9
(Hide Review...)  Simple book you need if you have any knee problems
Reviewer Permalink
I just had ACL replacement surgery and this book is a great resource and tool. This book tells you what you need to know in order to put together a basic workout routine to strengthen your knee no matter what your issue is. This book explains to you what Physical Therapists won't take the time to explain and allows you to ask intelligent questions of your therapist and surgeon. Note, this book was what turned me on to massage techniques which have sped my recovery immensely. Most insurance plans won't cover massage, and physical therapists and surgeons don't recommend it unless you ask. If you get no other books about knee recovery, get this one!!
(Review Data Last Updated: 2008-01-20 01:49:07 EST)
05-19-06 5 86\86
(Hide Review...)  Simple techniques create amazing results.
Reviewer Permalink
This remarkable little book may change the way you think about knee pain. Instead of focusing on pain symptoms and where they originate, the author focuses on what your knee does - and how to improve those functions with simple exercises. The only anatomy lesson you need is to know where your quadriceps and hamstring muscles are - front and rear of your thigh respectively.

He identifies four functions in your knee: strength, flexibility, proprioception/balance, and endurance. If you have unexplainable knee pain, you probably just need to improve your knee function in one or more of the four functional areas. The author suggests simple exercises in each functional category.

To develop strength, the single most important muscles to develop are your quadriceps. There are many exercises you can do to strengthen your quads. The author suggests a very simple floor exercise.

To develop flexibility, the author suggests a quad and a hamstring stretch. The exercises he suggests can be done standing or on the floor.

Proprioception might be a strange word to you. It was to me. It is probably best described as a combination of coordination and balance. Can you accurately sense what your knee is doing? Does it react appropriately to changes as you move? This is what proprioception is all about. The simple and interesting exercise the author suggests to improve proprioception is simply to stand on one leg for 30 seconds. Then switch legs. (It's ok to have a wall or chair to help catch you if you start to fall.) You might find this exercise easy to master. If so, the author suggests doing the exercise with your eyes closed. This may require considerable practice!

The author suggests that you can build endurance simply by walking or stationary bicycling.

And that's the entire program for treating your knee pain. Some readers may feel letdown or short-changed. What about all the anatomy lessons other practitioners give you? What about issues relating to your tendons, ligaments, bones, and cartilage? What is the theory behind this skimpy program?

Chapter 6 gives you the surprising answers to these questions. The author reviews many scientific studies on knee pain. The studies (based on X ray or MRI testing) show that the existence and/or severity of knee pain/disability have little correlation to the amount of knee deterioration. Many people with severe knee deterioration reported no pain, and some had their symptoms decline over time. The factors most closely linked to knee pain/disability were muscle strength, obesity, age, and psychological health. The author is a physical therapist and not a dietician, gerontologist, or psychologist. His knee program does as much for your knee as science suggests physical therapy can do.

The author recognizes that surgery and medications seem to help a lot of people, but the available research suggests that most people will benefit from the low-tech solutions he offers.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2008-01-04 11:21:08 EST)
05-18-06 5 48\48
(Hide Review...)  Simple techniques create amazing results.
Reviewer Permalink
This remarkable little book may change the way you think about knee pain. Instead of focusing on pain symptoms and where they originate, the author focuses on what your knee does - and how to improve those functions with simple exercises. The only anatomy lesson you need is to know where your quadriceps and hamstring muscles are - front and rear of your thigh respectively.

He identifies four functions in your knee: strength, flexibility, proprioception/balance, and endurance. If you have unexplainable knee pain, you probably just need to improve your knee function in one or more of the four functional areas. The author suggests simple exercises in each functional category.

To develop strength, the single most important muscles to develop are your quadriceps. There are many exercises you can do to strengthen your quads. The author suggests a very simple floor exercise.

To develop flexibility, the author suggests a quad and a hamstring stretch. The exercises he suggests can be done standing or on the floor.

Proprioception might be a strange word to you. It was to me. It is probably best described as a combination of coordination and balance. Can you accurately sense what your knee is doing? Does it react appropriately to changes as you move? This is what proprioception is all about. The simple and interesting exercise the author suggests to improve proprioception is simply to stand on one leg for 30 seconds. Then switch legs. (It's ok to have a wall or chair to help catch you if you start to fall.) You might find this exercise easy to master. If so, the author suggests doing the exercise with your eyes closed. This may require considerable practice!

The author suggests that you can build endurance simply by walking or stationary bicycling.

And that's the entire program for treating your knee pain. Some readers may feel letdown or short-changed. What about all the anatomy lessons other practitioners give you? What about issues relating to your tendons, ligaments, bones, and cartilage? What is the theory behind this skimpy program?

Chapter 6 gives you the surprising answers to these questions. The author reviews many scientific studies on knee pain. The studies (based on X ray or MRI testing) show that the existence and/or severity of knee pain/disability have little correlation to the amount of knee deterioration. Many people with severe knee deterioration reported no pain, and some had their symptoms decline over time. The factors most closely linked to knee pain/disability were muscle strength, obesity, age, and psychological health. The author is a physical therapist and not a dietician, gerontologist, or psychologist. His knee program does as much for your knee as science suggests physical therapy can do.

The author recognizes that surgery and medications seem to help a lot of people, but the available research suggests that most people will benefit from the low-tech solutions he offers.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2007-04-11 01:33:19 EST)
05-03-06 5 23\23
(Hide Review...)  what you need and nothing extra
Reviewer Permalink
This book doesn't waste your time - it just reports what research says has been effective and then lays out a simple routine of exercises you can do at home, with extensions if you want to go further. I've had good results from following basically the same routine he suggests - it's given me back hope that fifty-year-old knees can survive a running program after all, and it's helped me avoid surgery which probably wasn't needed. It also cut through a lot of conflicting and confusing diagnoses and went straight to advice on how to avoid pain - who cares about the exact cause if it goes away?
(Review Data Last Updated: 2007-04-05 01:31:11 EST)
02-23-06 5 14\15
(Hide Review...)  Great Book
Reviewer Permalink
Besides being an easy read, I found this book to be a common sense approach to the care of your knees. With disability in both of my knees, I found the author's approach very beneficial and would highly recommend this book to anyone with knee problems.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2007-04-05 01:31:11 EST)
02-25-05 5 21\21
(Hide Review...)  Well written and researched
Reviewer Permalink
I've had occasional knee pain for some time so I decided to try Treat Your Own Knees. This is written by the same author who wrote "The Multifidus" which helped me a lot with my back pain. I really like this author's reliance on medical research to determine what actually works. The exercises were easy to understand, well illustrated, and not that difficult to do. Unlike some of the other reviewers I wasn't put off by the smallish size of the book. That's what you call being "concise". I also learned about the anatomy of the knees and what NOT to do too. Very helpful overall.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2006-07-07 20:12:58 EST)
02-25-05 5 30\33
(Hide Review...)  If you kneed help.......
Reviewer Permalink
This knee pain book is very unique because it is completely based on just published research . Well laid out with pictures of easy exercises you can do at home or on the job, I consider it a valuable resource for all who have knee pain and highly recommend it. Also liked "The No-Beach, No-Zone, No-Nonsense Weight Loss Plan, A Pocket Guide to What Works" by the same author.

(Review Data Last Updated: 2007-04-05 01:31:11 EST)
11-18-04 5 46\47
(Hide Review...)  Help heal yourself.
Reviewer Permalink
I have had 16 years of knee pain originally brought on from a heavy knock to the knee and then exasperated by basketball and a lack of knowledge of how to solve the problem. This book helped almost immediately, with excellent detail and practical activities to treat the various aspects of knee health. I have had some great physiotherapists but even the best of them couldn't explain the detail in easy to understand terms like this book did. Furthermore, the practical activities can be implemented quickly into your daily routine. It may be the best ten dollars you ever spend if you have knee pain, just because it should limit your the time you spend waiting in a physiotherapists office.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2007-04-05 01:31:11 EST)
10-02-04 5 26\27
(Hide Review...)  knowledge is power
Reviewer Permalink
The author presents a stategy to deal with knee pain by focusing on the function of the knee. He bases his treatment suggestions on research-based evidence that these interventions have been shown to be effective. The book is written in language the lay person can understand and the exercises are clearly illustrated and instructions are simple to follow, This is a must read for any person suffering from knee pain!
(Review Data Last Updated: 2007-04-05 01:31:11 EST)
08-29-04 3 7\23
(Hide Review...)  price tag is bigger than the book!
Reviewer Permalink
This book has good general information and packs a lot of it in a tiny tiny book...I was a little dissapointed, but I guess size isn't always everything?
(Review Data Last Updated: 2006-07-07 20:12:58 EST)
02-16-04 5 33\36
(Hide Review...)  Excellent Knee Info
Reviewer Permalink
This book is excellent. It is an easy read and full of useful information. I recently had knee surgery on "torn up" meniscus and found this book to be very helpful as a follow up to my therapy. I urge anyone who wants to "save their knees" to get this book. As the saying goes "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!"
(Review Data Last Updated: 2006-07-07 20:12:58 EST)
  
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