Accessories

great re-do of original book
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

Useless book that upsets back pain sufferers
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.

useful info for back sufferers
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).

Finally did the trick
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.

Saved My Back
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.