Good book for someone with no knowledge of anatomy. Not much help. I have gotten the same information from free handouts at the Doctors office.

Most of this book gives alot of research info about what is true and not true about back pain. There is actually very little on actual exercises except for the 3 he describes which are excellent as there is one for every level of back pain you are in. I would have liked more exericises but what I do appreciate is that he points out once you reach your level of strength, you don't have to do them every day to maintain it.

You will like this book for what it tells you NOT to do and why more than for what it tells you to do. There is only one exercise (with variations) he suggests. However, he is great at explaining why other approaches may not be effective. He bases everything he says on his years of plowing through documented clinical trials. You will get more from this short book than you will from a visit to most Doctors or PTs. You will also save yourself a lot of running around from specialist to PT to alternative practitioners. Jim Johnson is not a snake oil salesman. This is solid information. I am using his information to help reduce my low back and hip pain, and sciatica. I believe it is having a positive impact.

In addition to using Jim's method other things I have found helpful (I have tried dozens) are: using a high quality, hi density, memory foam mattress topper to sleep on; using a product called "back joy" to sit on when I must sit in a chair or in the car; walking 45 minutes a day or, in the winter, using an elliptical machine (even if there is pain walking it usually goes away after about 15 minutes); doing additional stretching, moderate weight lifting and core work; and perhaps most important getting rid of my office chair and replacing it with a medium size exercise ball. YES that is correct, I sit on an exercise ball (draped in a soft blanket for comfort) instead of a chair. Now my wife does the same and my daughter. Once you get used to it, which takes a few weeks, you may never go back to chairs. Great for keeping your back limber and your mind alert. Why spend a thousand dollars on a fancy "ergonomic" chair when you can spend 20 bucks on an exercise ball that works even better? Best of luck with your back pain.

You will like this book for what it tells you NOT to do more than for what it tells you to do. There is only one exercise (with variations) he suggests. However, he is great at explaining why other approaches may not be effective. He bases everything he says on his years of plowing through documented clinical trials. You will get more from this short book than you will from a visit to most Doctors or PTs. You will also save yourself a lot of running around from specialist to PT to alternative practitioners. Jim Johnson is not a snake oil salesman. This is solid information. I am using his information to help reduce my low back and hip pain, and sciatica. I believe it is having a positive impact.

In addition to using Jim's method other things I have found helpful (I have tried dozens) are: using a high quality, hi density, memory foam mattress topper to sleep on; using a product called "back joy" to sit on when I must sit in a chair or in the car; walking 45 minutes a day or, in the winter, using an elliptical machine (even if there is pain walking it usually goes away after about 15 minutes); doing additional stretching, moderate weight lifting and core work (sorry Jim it just feels good); and perhaps most important getting rid of my office chair and replacing it with a medium size exercise ball. YES that is correct, I sit on an exercise ball (draped in a soft blanket for comfort) instead of a chair. Now my wife does the same and my daughter. Once you get used to it, which takes a few weeks, you may never go back to chairs. Great for keeping your back limber and your mind alert. Why spend a thousand dollars on a fancy "ergonomic" chair when you can spend 20 bucks on an exercise ball that works even better? Best of luck with your back pain.

I was greatly disappointed in this book and did not believe it delivered what it promised. Very little new information about this group of muscles in this book. Lots of review of journal articles and scientific testing. Boring. And only 3 exercises. The same 3 you would get in beginning physical therapy. Don't waste the money or energy.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!! I had back surgery 2 years ago (L1-L2 thru L3-L4 lumbar diskectomy) to relieve severe lower back pain and sciatica pain in the left leg. Although the surgery relieved the sciatica, regularly every 4-6 weeks I subsequently had recurring "episodes" which took 2-3 weeks to subside. I was walking, swimming, stretching, etc., all to no avail. Skelaxin and Mobic became my best friends during this period. A random Google search turned up this book by Jim Johnson (and the excellent 8/23/06 Amazon review by G. Brennan of LA,CA), and I decided "what the hell".... Bottom Line: It works. Period. I bought 2.5 lb. ankle weights, do the recommended exercises < 10 minutes/day every day, and 3-4 weeks later, my back pain has disappeared and the numbness in my left heel has disappeared 80%. BUY THIS BOOK. IT'LL BE THE BEST $10 YOU HAVE EVER SPENT IN YOUR LIFE.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!! I had back surgery 2 years ago (L1-L2 thru L3-L4 lumbar diskectomy) to relieve severe lower back pain and sciatica pain in the left leg. Although the surgery relieved the sciatica, regularly every 4-6 weeks I subsequently had recurring "episodes" which took 2-3 weeks to subside. I was walking, swimming, stretching, etc., all to no avail. Skelaxin and Mobic became my best friends during this period. A random Google search turned up this book by Jim Johnson (and the excellent 8/23/06 Amazon review by G. Brennan of LA,CA), and I decided "what the hell".... Bottom Line: It works. Period. I bought 2.5 lb. ankle weights, do the recommended exercises < 10 minutes/day every day, and 3-4 weeks later, my back pain has disappeared and the numbness in my left heel has disappeared 80%. BUY THIS BOOK. IT'LL BE THE BEST $10 YOU HAVE EVER SPENT IN YOUR LIFE.

I have been doing the exercises for 2 months. My lower back pain has not completely gone away, but has been greatly reduced. Best $10 I have spent in a long time...

I've been struggling with lower back problems for almost a year. Had an MRI that showed a bulging disc, but my symptoms didn't match that location. Had physical therapy (most of it made me worse), finally had a steriod injection that decreased the inflammation and eliminated the pain (although it is supposed to be temporary). No one (Doctor or therapists) seemed all that interested in helping me determine what to do to prevent a recurrence. I purchased several books -- this one was very helpful (although his focus is on just this one muscle) and I do believe the exercises are strengthing my back. Also helpful was one of the Robin McKenzie books. By combining these two approaches, I think I'm well on my way to preventing another painful flare-up.
I found his explanations of how the back works and his discussion of the research (upon which he bases his approach) to be enlightening.

Well it is a strange title. But if you are one of the 80% of Americans who suffer from back pain, this is a very worthwhile quick read. It's 120 pages and can be finished in 60 to 90 minutes. The Multifidus Back Pain Solution... is really more of a booklet then a book. It covers the basic physiology of the back, as well as common types of back problems and many of the treatments that are used. And then offers a simple program which has shown proven results.

The multifidus is a little-known set of muscles that connect the vertebrae. The thesis of author Jim Johnson, who is a physical therapist, is that strengthening these muscles will help many people who suffer from back pain to either (1) have less pain when they have episodes of back pain or (2) have fewer back pain episodes or (3) have a happy combination of (1) and (2). Johnson backs up his thesis based on research (that is ongoing) from quite a number of back pain studies.

As a person whose own back pain problems have been reduced dramatically in the last three plus years by using a nautilus back machine (that's designed to strengthen all the muscles running along the spinal vertabrae), I am sure Johnson is on to something.

The exercises Johnson suggests are simple to do, require no machines or weights (well, small ankle weights can be used), and take very little time. I am going to incorporate them into my own gym time, on days when I'm not using the nautilus back machine.

The author admits his program will not work for everyone, but it does help the majority of people in his own practice and in the scientific studies.

DEFINITELY worth the small investment of time and money to get and read this book if you have a back problem.

Jim Johnson stopped looking for causes of chronic back pain after researching the studies on the subject. Scientific studies don't support the common theories about what causes chronic back pain. Many people without pain live happily not knowing that they have back conditions usually treated with surgery.

Johnson also found that people with pain usually have weakened multifidus muscles. Those without pain usually don't. So, instead of looking for causes, Johnson recommends that patients initially work to strengthen their multifidus muscles. These muscles weave around your spine from your neck to your low back. Their location on your spine indicates their importance to your back health. Johnson describes three different exercises that target the multifidus. He lets the reader choose the one that they prefer to do.

Most physical therapists recommend multiple exercises for chronic back pain. That shotgun approach can be effective if followed. But patient compliance drops as programs get more complex. Johnson's program requires performing only one exercise. Yet most of his patients improve or completely relieve their chronic back pain without any other treatment.

Johnson says most patients notice improvements within two weeks. If you don't improve within three months, try something else. He also acknowledges that his program is for chronic back pain: continuous or intermittent pain lasting for months. For acute pain, time heals better than any exercise program.

The book illustrates the exercises he recommends. Here is a basic description of them:

Johnson most highly recommends the "bird-dog" or opposite arm/leg extension. Start in an all-fours position on the floor. Raise one leg straight back and hold it up for a second, then lower. Alternate with the other leg. Work up to 20 repetitions with each leg or about two minutes of repetitions. Every other day or three times a week is enough. When that movement becomes easy, go to the next level by extending the opposite arm straight out while extending each leg. When that becomes easy, the final level is to add light weights to each arm and leg, depending upon your tolerance. Once you build up your strength, perform the exercise once a week to maintain it. You will find this exercise in many exercise books and on many websites. Alas, don't be alarmed that they all prescribe different "hold" times, number of repetitions, and other adjustments. Johnson explains why the pattern he describes should work fine for you.

The second exercise is commonly known as the prone or facedown extension. Lie on your stomach. Lift one leg straight up about 6 inches and hold for a second. Lower and repeat with the other leg. Work up to the same frequency and number of repetitions as the first exercise. When the exercise becomes easy, add light weights. Do this exercise if you can't do the first one.

The third exercise can be done sitting or standing. While exhaling, simply pull your stomach muscles in as tight as you can and hold them for a few seconds. Work up to 20 repetitions. This can be done daily. This exercise is for those unable to do one of the other two exercises.

Jim Johnson writes short convincing books. He presents simple self-care solutions. Do you want to avoid surgery, prescription drugs, supplements, pricey equipment, and complicated workout routines? Then try Jim Johnson's books for what ails you. If you have knee problems, look up his knee book on Amazon. He also has a book on treating your rotator cuff. Creating good health can sometimes be surprisingly simple.

So I've been doing the excercises as this book suggested and it's been great. I hardly ever get back pain anymore. My back pain is stiff lower back and I've also has disketomy done too. Ever since I did their suggested work out I truly have not had any incidents of back pain. I would've liked to see this book suggest more excercises. It gives out only a few excercises, however those excercises are very effective. The book also talks to much about studies, and other insignificant topics.

I found this to be an all around good book. The main thrust is that you have multifidus muscles in your back that a bunch of research has found to be abnormal in back pain patients. The book goes on to show you exercises you can do to fix your multifidus muscle. At first glance, some of the exercises looked like ones I have seen people do before, but the book spends much time making sure you use proper technique and strength training guidelines to get the full benefits. One good reason I would recommend this book to others is that according to the latest research cited in the book, strengthening your multifidus can actually PREVENT future back pain attacks

Author of
THE TRUTH
ABOUT CAFFEINE

Physical therapist (P.T.) Jim Johnson's The Multifidus Back Pain Solution is a straight forward, educational and hope inspiring read that has been effective in helping me address my lower back and leg nerve pain.

For others who may be searching for a non-drug or non-surgical answer to back pain, I am sharing my experience in the hope of helping someone else.

Background:
Over the last year and half, I could not get any more than 3-4 hours sleep a night, because of back pain. I went through 3 new beds. Each new firm mattress I tried ended up after a month not being supportive enough for my sore back pain. My doctor recommended muscle relaxants, but that didn't help. So, I cranked up the sit-ups and attended an exercise class in addition to my normal tennis and occasional running. No pain, no gain. (Yes I am a slow learner). Then in exercise class my right knee went numb from a jumping exercise and I could not walk for a couple of minutes. Now I had back pain preventing me from sleeping. Sitting was becoming impossible without pain. My right knee would go numb going up stairs two at a time. My left leg had nerve pain shooting down my left thigh and part of my lower leg. And even after 4+ weeks staying off exercise to heal, none of these pains were going away.

So, the doctor ordered a series of tests and physical therapy for me. Ultrasound, electrical treatment and stretching for previous sports injuries always worked in the past. This time, physical therapy was a bust and some stretching my leg nerve pain. After getting an MRI of my back, the orthopedic doctor explained I have Grade 1 / 2 spondylolisthesis (i.e., your L5 vertebrate is slipping forward, because at some time in the past your bilateral pars or the hooks that hold each neighboring vertebrate in line in your back have broken off over time and the slippage is causing narrowing and severe impingement of the nerve root). You can take drugs and get a cortisone shoot to manage the pain, but there is nothing you can do. (The doctor was kind enough not to mention the screws in the vertebrae solution). Chiropractors and physical therapy are just feel good placeboes that can't help.

I am fifty and have lived a fairly healthy life. I won't take drugs to mask a problem and make it worse. Implying I have no future athletic mobility depressed me, and made me mad. This was just unfair and unacceptable.

Back pain help search:
So, I spent a lot of anxious weeks searching the internet for back pain solutions through Google scholar papers and university medical sites. I started reading and collecting randomized control trial studies similar to what P.T. Johnson describes in his book. During this searching it became apparent the British, Australians, French and Belgians believe in intensive physical therapy to address back pain and where successful in pursuing this route. It also became apparent surgical solutions may help some with improved back functionality, but some level of pain still remains.

My self-research progress was slow. I just kept reading and collecting studies, but not sure of what path to move out on. My first break thru was to read keeping a pillow between your knees in bed would relieve back and nerve pain. Pretty odd, but it only took one night and now I could sleep through the night. You can't believe what a relief and pleasure this was to sleep again! Next, I began using a lumbar support pillow to learn to sit up straight at work and at home which made sitting bearable over time. Then I told myself you need to keep exercising. So, I started walking for 50 minutes every morning before work. This was embarrassing at first for someone who has run all their life, but it seemed to relieve some of the leg nerve pain.

Eventually, I come upon Australian Professor Peter O'Sullivan's "Evaluation of Specific Stabilizing Exercise in the Treatment of Chronic Low Back Pain with Radiologic Diagnosis of Spondyloysis and Spondylolisthesis". This is where I began to realize a pattern in some of the back pain randomized control trail studies focusing on the multifidus back muscle and transversus abdomis muscles. However, the problem with most of the control studies is that they provide detailed randomized control trial statistics and control parameters, but scarce details on the actual physical exercise for these muscles. Fortunately, I was able to obtain a copy of one of Professor O'Sullivan's references, "Muscle Control - pain control. What exercises would you prescribe" by C.A. Richardson and G.A. Jull which describe simple multifidus core muscle activation exercises similar to P.T. Johnson's exercise #6 in the on-all-fours position, lying on the stomach and standing positions. So, I began practicing these simple exercises and while continuing to build my anxious pile of internet papers and trying this or that exercise also. Still suffering from my no-pain, no-gain stupidity, I proceeded with searching the internet for multifidus and transversus abdomis exercises. Per chance, one multifus searches turned up P.T. Johnson's book. I read the Amazon reviews and surmised his exercise was similar to others I had stumbled upon elsewhere. However, one review was by a runner and he said he returned to marathons in 6 months. With my hope perked up from an athlete's perspective and being exhausted from internet searching and back muscle exercising, I bought the book.

Ignoring P.T. Johnson's advice at the beginning of his book, I immediately read the back exercise chapter and started exercising it. A week later I read the rest of the book. This is when I began to relax and have faith in pursuing this book's recommendations. P.T. Johnson references the same Professor O'Sullivan control trail I found and explains how his efforts are based on the randomized control trials accumulated over many years of research and practice of physical therapy in a hospital. In other words, here is a person knowledgeable in his field extracting from all the control studies, what I was struggling to understand, in simple terms, a understanding to back pain and what most can do to relieve that pain through specific exercises. Also, very important, P.T. Johnson's book educates the reader in understanding the back and its issues. For me, this helps provide belief that something is worth committing to.

Finally progress
After 4 weeks of P.T. Johnson's exercise, I am back and leg nerve pain free with minor back hip/buttucks area nerve pain at the end of the work day some times! This is after 1 ¼ years of lower back pain and 4 months of leg nerve pain. Now, the multifidus muscles on both sides of my lower back are like taught cables after the exercise. Also, now I don't need a pillow between my legs to sleep or a lumbar pillow for sitting, and have returned to competitive tennis. Note: I can still induce leg nerve pain by doing knee fall outs or sitting in slouchy positions, but it means I have to go out of my way to feel pain. A year from now is when I can give the best report, because it takes a while to build any muscle and really know if you are free and clear of an issue.

On my specific 3 day a week back exercise regimen, I do the following:

1. The simple multifidus activation exercises referenced by Richardson and Jull similar to P.T. Johnson's exercise #6 on the all fours position which P.T. Johnson recommends you do every day
2. P.T. Johnson's exercise #3 with the following caveat
- do one exercise #3 set holding each leg out statically with the weight for 5-10 seconds and the other set with no delays to a dynamic beat. Why? The Belgian's L A Danneels, did a study, "Effects of three different training modalites on the cross sectional area of the lumbar multifidus muscle in patients with chronic low back pain", on what exercise program it took to grow the multifidus as measured by a CT scan. Note: not that I am right, but that's what I am doing. If anyone can share an understanding of this it would be appreciated.
3. Sitting weighted ankle leg lifts
4. Lateral Dynamic Pillar Bridge exercises for each side to exercise the transverse abdomis muscles which horizontally wrap around the rib cage to give additional support to the back in conjunction with the vertical multifidus muscle support. Note: situps put a lot of undue compressive stresses on the backs and should be avoided if in pain or injured. (Reference: Professor Stuart McGill).
5. Walking 50 minutes each morning.

Based on my experience, I could have saved a lot of time and anxiety if I started reading P.T. Johnson's book first. I apologize for my long winded probably cathartic review, but I hope this provide a path of optimism and results for someone else suffering from back pain.

just something worth checking out if you have lower back problems: is your psoas major and iliacus tight? if these muscles are tight and short, they effectively drag the whole upper body forwards and down. This causes overstrain in the antagonistic muscles of the back to compensate. In my muscle therapy practise, nearly all patients with lower back problems have been helped by stretching of these two muscles. An important thing though - be sure to check if the muscles on the right side are tighter than on the left side (or vice versa). If they are, there's a good chance you have a functional short leg, which results in a tilting of the pelvis. And a tilted pelvis means scoliosis (S-shape) in the spine since its foundation isn't flat. Which again means that a vetrabral disc is more likely to slip. Correct your pelvis tilt and the back pain might disappear.

I found this book to be an excellent guide and would highly recommend it to anyone starting their own journey in addressing a back injury. It's short, but it has a lot of good information very well presented. While the author does focus on the multifidus muscle, the book gives a very objective overview of how to handle back problems in general, from generic lower back pain to pain associated with herniated disks. He also helps lay people understand how the medical profession categorizes back injuries to put them in their proper scope. The book describes several exercises, but not anything beyond the scope of the multifidus. More exercises would have been a great addition, but the book isn't about all back exercises. Anyone with a serious back injury should see a physical therapist for guidance. What I found most useful in the book is the short mention of steroid injections (epidural), which seem to be questionably useful. The author could have elaborated more on the appropriateness of them, as it's hard to compare your own situation with those in studies (ie: how many millimeters is the disk bulging). I also liked the fact that the author provided select references for the types of issues most lay people would be interested in viewing. In my own experience, I've learned that a muscle imbalance is most likely the cause of my L5-S1 herniated disk, and it took 14 weeks and a good number of visits with various practitioners to come to that conclusion.

I had 2 herniated discs. Went through chiro, massage, p.t., cortisone injections....then i read this book and began following the exercises in it. The MacKenzie method DID NOT work for me, it only created more pain. This book was extremely helpful to me. Surprisingly, my massage therapist recommended it, not my physical therapist, orthopeadic, or chiropractor. I am fully healed without surgery and running marathons! I recommend this book to any average person who wants to have a better understanding of how to strengthen your back and core!

This book seems to be raising a lot of controversy lately. After reading it, however, it is quite obvious that the author has based, actually, all the information on solid research, that being randomized controlled trials. Therefore, it is quite hard to argue with the points being raised in regards to his method of treating back pain by exercising the multifidus muscle. I suggest other medical professions that engage in questionable practices do the same to justify their respective treatments. Hats off to the author for practicing evidence based medicine.

This was a concise, easy to read book. Good reference tool for the therapist in practice as well as the layperson.

This was a concise, easy to read book. Good reference tool for the therapist in practice as well as the layperson.

This is a good book for the lay person. Both Chiropractic and Physcial Therapy are important disciplines which benefit many people and both are well educated in Rehabilitative exercise. Practitioners who understand the full education of both professions work well together for the best interest of the patient. Comments which degrade one profession or the other are usually rooted in a lack of investigation into each profession and the education obtained by the best schools. On the flip side of that it can be purely a competitive motive. Look for Doctors (Medical Doctors, Doctors of Osteopathy, Doctors of Chiropractic, and Doctors of PT), as well as Physical Therapists and other medical professionals who are willing to work with multiple disciplines for your best interest. There are excellent practitioners and there are mediocre practitioners in all branches of the medical field. Look for those that are knowledgable and well educated. This can be found in all disciplines.

This book presents a very simple exercise program to strengthen the major muscles that stabilize the low back and the scientific rationale for doing so. I would recommend the exercises program as good first step for those with low back pain. If however a person has malalignment issues of the low back, hips or pelvis I do't think it will be enough. I would also consider a postural alignment exercise program.

this is a good book for the lay reader - especially if you have not have success with other forms of back treatment.

As a book for bodyworkers I believe it is somewhat lacking. Having said that I sometimes recommend it to my clients if they tend to "forget" to do their exercises. They are often more motivated after reading 80 odd pages of background explainations - I certainly do not have to time to go into that level of detail with them.

I have been doing the exercise recommended by this book for the past three weeks. I have had lower back problems on and off for over 25 years.

We have just had a blizzard which was followed by a storm two days later. I was out shovelling snow for several hours for several days in a row. In the past this would have led to severe lower back pain from all the lifting and twisting movements. Today I have no back pain at all! My back feels very strong and comfortable. I have just a bit of soreness in my shoulders from all the heavy lifting.

I have no idea if this exercise will help everyone with lower back pain but I can say it has improved my back condition by 100%. I can unreservedly recommend that anyone with lower back pain try this simple exercise which takes only a few minutes.

I have been doing the exercise recommended by this book for the past three weeks. I have had lower back problems on and off for over 25 years.

We have just had a blizzard which was followed by a storm two days later. I was out shovelling snow for several hours for several days in a row. In the past this would have led to severe lower back pain from all the lifting and twisting movements. Today I have no back pain at all! My back feels very strong and comfortable. I have just a bit of soreness in my shoulders from all the heavy lifting.

I have no idea if this exercise will help everyone with lower back pain but I can say it has improved my back condition by 100%. I can unreservedly recommend that anyone with lower back pain try this simple exercise which takes only a few minutes.

This book offers good information on an important aspect of spinal care. THE REVIEW BY THE CHIROPRACTOR SHOULD BE IGNORED as it is obviously written without any backing to his reports of this muscle group being not under conscious control. He misleads readers also that this muscle group cannot be strengthened with rehab exercises(Chiropractors are not trained in rehabilitative exercise). Readers should follow this book up with a visit to a Physical Therapist with strong manual skills in order to be most effectivley treated.

I've had chronic back pain for years and have tried several modalities to treat the pain. I've also read several books on the subject and have tried different exercises. The Multifidus Back Pain Solution has fabulous medical research to back it up, simple exercises for people of all different strengths, and great common sense.

Most of the pain I have had in my back is gone. On the rare occasion that I do have pain, it is much less intense and doesn't last for as long. I have renewed hope and a rich life because I can move without fear.

Strenthening the multifidus is the way to go. I have checked out the spine journals where the author gets his information, and they are right on the mark.

The Chiropractor who wrote that the book is full of garbage should realize that the author is actually an advocate for chiropractic care along side the exercise program in the book.
I also don't see medical research as to the Chirpractor's claims to back them up.

Jim Johnson has clearly spent meticulous hours on organizing medical research, reading the spine journals, and seeing where commonalites exist within the data. I don't know too many practitioners who care that much to be so meticulous.

This book has allowed me to regain control of my back and not rely on outside help.

Buy this book and follow the program. It could just change your life like it has mine.

As a physical therapist, I found that the information in this book is actually helpful and relevant for low back pain patients. It does provide the latest research on the multifidus and it's relation to back pain. Will the exercises here cure ALL back problems? No, but strengthening the multifidus as well as the abdominals is one of the key elements in the rehabilitation and management of low back pain. The information in this book is not at all "ignorant" as stated by a previous reviewer. I have used these exercises for my patients with good results.

As a chiropractor I can tell you that obviously this author does not know that the main spinal stabilizers in your back aren't under conscious control. YOU CANNOT STRENGTHEN THEM WITH STANDARD REHAB EXERCISES. The multifidus group aren't involved in stabilization and closed chain motion, but rather are functional in open chain motion. To put this in layman's terms, they are important when lifting stuff, but have little to do with posture and walking.....where muscle atrophy causes problems in back pain. To work THOSE muscles, you need to do it indirectly, for example, by doing balance exercises with a wobble board, or better yet, fix the bad habits that are at the root of the problem by the Alexander Technique. Additionally, most back pain is actually caused by chronic disc degeneration. The authority on how, why, and what to do about it is Cox's book, Low Back Pain. Do yourself a favor, see your chiropractor.

I've been fighting my lower back pain for the past 28 years. Mostly it's just been a nag, but every few years it would wipe me out. Exercise has long been the key to keeping pain under control. Kit Laughlin's books got me moving pretty well over the past few years, but I still would have some annoying twinges from time to time. When I read this book, I thought it was too simple to be of much use, but after a month of doing the exercises, I'm sold. The exercises are simple, and the rewards are excellent. My back just feels _so_ much more stable, flexible, and strong. Give them a try!

A useful book for the layperson and even the professional. Clearly written and well-documented. A couple of minor flaws. The information about sitting is inaccurate. Certainly a logical conclusion was drawn from the literature cited but the conclusion was incorrect nonetheless. The author has read the research but doesn't necessarily have the indepth experience and familiarity to know how some of the research was done and the flaws and errors that would escape the individual who doesn't know the story behind the story (such as with the Fahrni study). Also, the description of the McKenzie approach is not quite correct (but a common misconception among even those claiming to be very familiar with the methodology) and again, some of the literature cited has weaknesses (such as the Riddle study).

Also, does it strike anyone else as peculiar that the writing style of many of the reviews seems very similiar? Hmmm ...

Despite the minor problems, this book is a worthwhile purchase that should benefit many.

This is a great source of back information, based on scientific research (well documented). Best of all, it is written in layman's language with simple, well-explained exercises to be done at home, without expensive equipment! For any person who has suffered with back pain and is interested to learn more about his back and a simple intervention that might make a world of difference. I highly recommend it...a true bargain!