This book is more of a dime store novel then a helpful resource. It's mostly just words, words, and words from a doctor who like to hear himself go on and on. There are very, very few diagrams and the one's they have arn't helpful. A 5 minute google search on back exercises would be more helpful. I recently bought 5 back books from Amazon and this was the worse one.

Nine months ago, I was diagnosed with a herniated disc. The orthopedist I was seeing told me I needed surgery. I had terrible back pain as well as sciatica and had a lot of trouble walking and standing -- being in the grocery line was torture! I tried chiropracty and accupuncture to avoid surgery but was on the point of giving up and calling the spine surgeon when my husband recommended I try this book. I followed Dr. Root's advice and gave my back a complete rest for 48 hours and then began doing his exercises for fifteen minutes morning and night. It's been a month and a half since I began his exercise program and I have been pain free for the entire time! I can't recommend this book enough -- it really is a gem.

excellent advice from a renowned professional - followed the exercises for a healthy back and eliminated my back pain - would reccommend for those with annoying back pain - severe back pain requires directives from a personal doctor

This small paperback is next to being totally useless for back pain sufferers. First of all, the author spends 1/3 of the book giving you boring technical details about how the back works. Don't get me wrong; I would have loved to know how my back works, but his writing is completely dry and confusing. The graphic illustrations are produced very poorly, reminiscent of old books you used to have to read in your high school library.

The author talks about potential treatments including alternative treatments. He pretty much tells you nothing will work, period. That's really bad news. In fact, he says that "90% of back pains disappear without *any* treatment." Ok, but at least give us some effective means of relieving the pain. Not much is discussed here, either. He basically tells you that pain relievers, muscle relaxants and acupuncture won't work. There's a section heading mentioning heat relief but interestingly heat pads are not really discussed. Very frustrating.

The last 1/3 of the book is devoted to simple back exercises. I did these for a month and my back pain did not improve. (I guess the author does say that the exercises are not for relieving or treating the pain but for "preventing" the pain in the future.) Whatever. This book is a completely waste of money.

In the end, I got a German-made homeopathic anti-inflammatory ointment that, after a few applications, stopped my back pain. A tube of the ointment costs about the same as this book but can be used many times, effectively.

This small paperback is next to being totally useless for back pain sufferers. First of all, the author spends 1/3 of the book giving you boring technical details about how the back works. Don't get me wrong; I would have loved to know how my back works, but his writing is completely dry and confusing. The graphic illustrations are produced very poorly, reminiscent of old books you used to have to read in your high school library.

The author talks about potential treatments including alternative treatments. He pretty much tells you nothing will work, period. That's really bad news. In fact, he says that "90% of back pains disappear without *any* treatment." Ok, but at least give us some effective means of relieving the pain. Not much is discussed here, either. He basically tells you that pain relievers, muscle relaxants and acupuncture won't work. There's a section heading mentioning heat relief but interestingly heat pads are not really discussed. Very frustrating.

The last 1/3 of the book is devoted to simple back exercises. I did these for a month and my back pain did not improve. (I guess the author does say that the exercises are not for relieving or treating the pain but for "preventing" the pain in the future.) Whatever. This book is a completely waste of money.

In the end, I got a German-made homeopathic anti-inflammatory ointment that, after a few applications, stopped my back pain. A tube of the ointment costs about the same as this book but can be used many times, effectively.

I bought this when my husband was diagnosed with a herniated disk. Dr. Root offers concise explanations of the anatomy of the back and spine, the different types of back injury, and the range of available treatments. Also, the exercises are easy to follow, and now I do them (they are meant for people who don't have a serious injury, but who just have stiffness and minor pain)---and he makes a point of emphasizing care in self-treating and using "alternative" treatments without being dismissive. His views reflect the most up-to-date thinking on back pain--that surgery is rarely needed and exercise can fix most disk problems (like it did with my husband), and he helps you navigate the options (along with your orhtopedist).

I bought this when my husband was diagnosed with a herniated disk. Dr. Root offers concise explanations of the anatomy of the back and spine, the different types of back injury, and the range of available treatments. Also, the exercises are easy to follow, and now I do them (they are meant for people who don't have a serious injury, but who just have stiffness and minor pain)---and he makes a point of emphasizing care in self-treating and using "alternative" treatments without being dismissive. His views reflect the most up-to-date thinking on back pain--that surgery is rarely needed and exercise can fix most disk problems (like it did with my husband), and he helps you navigate the options (along with your orhtopedist).

I had a bulging disk problem many years ago but had recovered. Recently I had my first serious flair up, and for two weeks none of my standard exercises worked.

I got Dr. Root's book, and his exercises immediately started helping. One particular cross-legged exercise helped realign my back so that the other exercises could be more productive.

Without this book, I would have had to go back to the doctor and get his help because I was getting desperate. Now I'm on my way to recovery, and I'll be sure to keep doing Dr. Root's exercises so they'll keep my back in shape.

I had a bulging disk problem many years ago but had recovered. Recently I had my first serious flair up, and for two weeks none of my standard exercises worked.

I got Dr. Root's book, and his exercises immediately started helping. One particular cross-legged exercise helped realign my back so that the other exercises could be more productive.

Without this book, I would have had to go back to the doctor and get his help because I was getting desperate. Now I'm on my way to recovery, and I'll be sure to keep doing Dr. Root's exercises so they'll keep my back in shape.

Almost 30 years ago, my back was on a downward spiral. I progressed from annual episodes of "throwing my back out" to almost daily pain that varied from mildly annoying to activity stopping. I consulted doctors and chiropractors. As I was not bad enough for surgery, the doctors had little to offer. One chiropractor gave me an excellent treatment that seemed to cure me for a couple of years. He retired, and I was not helped by other chiropractors.

Then I found Dr. Root's book. The latest version is "No More Aching Back", Signet(November 1991), ISBN 0-451-17091-1. I started doing his easy exercises, and my back pain went away gradually over the course of a few months. I've continued doing some of his exercises pretty consistently for almost 20 years, and I have not had a significant episode of back pain in that time.

Recently, I went to an orthopedic surgeon for a knee injury. Most of the other patients in his waiting room were being treated for back pain. Some needed weekly physical therapy and drugs to help them through the day. If I did not find Dr. Root's book, I think I would have suffered like them.

I've recommended the book to more people than Dr. Root's mother. My back feels great. Good luck.

Almost 30 years ago, my back was on a downward spiral. I progressed from annual episodes of "throwing my back out" to almost daily pain that varied from mildly annoying to activity stopping. I consulted doctors and chiropractors. As I was not bad enough for surgery, the doctors had little to offer. One chiropractor gave me an excellent treatment that seemed to cure me for a couple of years. He retired, and I was not helped by other chiropractors.

Then I found Dr. Root's book. The latest version is "No More Aching Back", Signet(November 1991), ISBN 0-451-17091-1. I started doing his easy exercises, and my back pain went away gradually over the course of a few months. I've continued doing some of his exercises pretty consistently for almost 20 years, and I have not had a significant episode of back pain in that time.

Recently, I went to an orthopedic surgeon for a knee injury. Most of the other patients in his waiting room were being treated for back pain. Some needed weekly physical therapy and drugs to help them through the day. If I did not find Dr. Root's book, I think I would have suffered like them.

I've recommended the book to more people than Dr. Root's mother. My back feels great. Good luck.

I recently went through a herniated disc. It has been the most painful and depressing thing I have ever experienced. The first two months I couldn't even walk and the rest four months I was able to bearly function, but with only one thing in my mind: PAIN. I wished I would had bought this book from day one I started with the pain, or even better, before everything ever happened. I would had learned to take better care of myself and to catch those red flags my boddy was sending me. It is easy to read and it teaches you how to deal with it and how to prevent future sciatic pain. I have done everything here and it really helped. There is another book that is also good which I just read about a week ago: "The Sciatica Relief Handbook". It was also good.

2004,
Well, I must add, I underwent back surgery on 07/03. These books help if the disc is not as bad... I would imagine... LOL

This book is an excellent source for practical information concerning the health and care of your back, plus it really is a fifteen minute workout of exercises that really work. I have been doing the exercises and no more back stress.

I suffer from 2 herniated disks one at S1L5 (extremely blown) and one at L4 (moderate), I also suffer from spinal stenosis. I have been following Dr. Root's exercise program now for a month,and have had tremendous results with the pain from the disks and the siatica down my leg. I never thought I could be pain free or off of pain medication! This is a wonderful book and program for anyone who suffers with herniated disks!