Review of "The Daily Telegraph Back Pain What Really Works 2nd Edition UK"

Written by: Arthur C Klein Reviewed by: Lesley Hampton Published by: Constable & Robinson 2006 ISBN: 978-1-84529-098-6/1-84529-098- Price: £9.99	Available from the BackCare Shop
Simple, yet ingenious premise; what really works with back pain as advised by back pain sufferers themselves. For the first edition nearly 500 Americans were asked based on personal experience for the relative efficacy of the various treatments on offer. For this UK edition, previous results have been extended and updated with a larger on-line UK survey being added. The results are impressive, and have been formed into a reference book (not a self help manual), which could become a veritable bible for not only sufferers, but also clinicians, practitioners and trainers. I admit that when I first saw this deceptively small paperback I felt slightly overwhelmed by the sheer scale of information it contains. Part one is split into five sections; introduction, back practitioners, back treatments, categories of back pain and self-healing. These, in turn, are split further giving incredibly in-depth information and guidance. Part two deals with exercise and what works, with four sections: introduction to exercise, motivation, the exercises, mind & body, followed by a conclusion on enjoying life. There are easy- to-follow diagrams of the exercises with sensible exercise plans and charts. A glossary and introduction to the anatomy and physiology of the spine are included, and a list of conventional drugs and healthcare.
I loved the down-to-earth style of writing, which made everything so accessible. As a manual handling trainer passionate about holistic back care, I was impressed by how it not only offers in-depth explanations on conventional treatments, but also looks at alternative therapies, and examines every aspect of daily living from household tasks by room allocation to chopping firewood!! Although primarily for back sufferers it is packed with so much information and advice that it deserves be on the shelf of any clinician, practitioner or tutor. Use it as a reference book and dip in and out. You won’t be disappointed. The book’s very well organised and includes: detailed contents and index; list of topics covered at the start of chapters; summary of the main points at the end of chapters. For each topic there is a bulleted list that forms a sort of checklist of things to do and I feel this will make it easy to refer back and tackle a particular topic. I think the book would be of benefit to those with and without RSI and should be essential reading for computer users.