The Better Back Book: Simple Exercises for the Prevention and Care of Back Pain

Discusses the causes of back pain, recommends specially selected exercises, and discusses back treatments

All authors of back books would have sufferers believe that they have the magic formula. In both these books, lifelong attention to weight control and appropriate exercise are touted as the ingredients to improved backs. Certainly where muscle injury or weakness is involved, the advice is sage. Pain from structural problems in the spine or from disease both may need further medical intervention, which both Bean and Selby discuss. Selby has a better overview of the spine and how it is supposed to function, and includes a section on immediate first-aid for muscle strains, sprains, and spasms. The strength of Bean's book is its inclusion of three levels of graduated exercises and stretching (modified for pregnancy and post-partum) to get the bedridden up and moving after the initial acute pain of injury subsides. These exercises are not as rigorous or extensive as those found in Judith Scott's Goodbye to Bad Backs ( LJ 3/15/88). Scott's exercises are intended to further strengthen and make flexible the muscles (most notably the iliopsoas) which support the lower back so that re-injury and its pain will be unlikely. Both Bean and Selby have written good books, but for those millions of long-term sufferers who just want to get on their feet again, Bean's book is the one to start with. Both are recommended for public libraries.
- Robert Jordan, Iowa Testing Programs Lib., Univ. of Iowa, Iowa City
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.