Essential Back Care by DK Publishing

Essential Back Care is a guide to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of back conditions. The book covers many topics related to back pain. Some of these are: anatomy, causes, treatment options, strategies for preventing the pain, and lots of exercises to help with strengthening and stretching the muscles of the back and neck.

This is a pretty good book. The book is nicely laid out and contains informative text as well as lots of colourful illustrations. All information that readers would need if they had or have back or neck pain. With this book, they should be able to diagnosis the problem (superficially), find treatment, and maintain a healthy back. Those with serious back problems still need to contact a medical professional, but this book could help them understand what's going on and show them how to cope with the pain while they are being treated.

I particularly liked the rehabilitation exercise section. I think stretching and strengthening the muscles is very important for both back and neck health. The exercises are explained well and each position is illustrated and labelled where necessary. There are even advanced stretches and variations to use once the basics are mastered.

There are many Question & Answer sections in the book. For example, on the section for Consulting a Physical Therapist, the Q&A section lists questions (along with the answers) that a reader might have before attending their first session. These parts were very informative.

I think this book would be most useful for those with serious back/neck problems. While it won't replace a doctor or other professional, the book could be used in conjunction with other treatments that have been prescribed. Those with occasional back pain, like me, will find it somewhat useful. I found the anatomy, preventing pain, maintenance and exercise sections particularly interesting and helpful.

Recommended.

For more information about this book or to browse inside, please visit DK's website.

I'd like to thank those nice people at DK Canada for this review copy.

Essential Back Care by DK Publishing, Dorling Kindersley (DK), ©2011. ISBN 9780756682644(Soft cover), 224p.