Customer Reviews

Rapidly Reversible Low Back Pain

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a book that should be read by everyone involved in low back pain care. Dr. Donelson uses great analogies to question past research methodologies and has compiled all the evidence that supports Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT) in an easy to read format. Insurance companies and employers involved in paying into the $90 billion a year low back dilemma should be particularly aware of the lack of evidence for very expensive and often ineffective diagnostic testing and treatments. Donelson's analogy of how these costs could be significantly reduced simply by using MDT as a presurgical gold standard is enlightening. The study sited in Denmark was quite impressive by showing the reduction in surgical rates by two thirds when simply utilizing MDT. For our patients, this book will allow them to make informed decisions regarding low back care. With "centralization" and "directional preference" occurring in 75 - 85 % of individuals with low back and leg pain, and 50% with chronic low back pain why would you not demand that this be your first course of treatment? For Physical Therapists who are not trained in MDT, this an excellent reason to begin training. Very often physical therapists are looking for studies to support what they do and they are often frustrated by the lack of valid research. Donelson's book is an almanac of relevant literature and scientific studies that confirm the importance of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy. For those of us who have received the advanced training in MDT, it is a wonderful read as it validates what we see in the clinic on an everyday basis. I am personally very appreciative of the effort that has gone into this book. It is an excellent reference book that helps explain to industry, insurance carriers, referral sources, and patients that what we do as clinicians not only produces extremely good results with minimal expense but has a wealth of scientific data to support it as well.


Joseph G. Maccio, MA, PT, Dip. MDT
Diplomat, Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy

Low back pain is one of the most common causes of visits to family doctors. One in eight adults will experience an episode of low back pain in a lifetime. And yet, there are a bewildering array of treatments available. How is one to make sense of the options? In Rapidly Reversible Low Back Pain, Dr. Donelson has written a superbly readable guidebook. He looks at the latest scientific evidence with fresh insight and writes in a clear and compelling style, with special emphasis on evaluating the method of back care known as the McKenzie method. The McKenzie method, practiced worldwide, has attracted the most scientific scrutiny of any form of non-surgical back care. Dr. Donelson, an orthopedic surgeon and McKenzie method specialist, is uniquely qualified to discuss the benefits and risks of the various back care options. Who should read this book? Anyone who suffers with significant lower back pain (with or without leg pain) and anyone who pays for the treatment of such conditions.

Mitchell F. Miglis, DC, Cert MDT
Certified in the McKenzie method

This was a brilliant book. Although I have read the McKenzie Texts cover to cover, it is only through the information in this book that I now truly understand the research and guideline dilemmas that exist in LBP management. In turn, I understand why it is taking so long for MDT to be more widely accepted, and how approaches lacking any significant evidence have been able to flourish, in particular, related to the field practice of manual therapy and alternative treatment approaches, never mind the pervasiveness of surgical intervention, etc. You have also presented some innovative ways of trying to spread the word and make MDT more accepted.

Dr. Donelson's book is a MUST read for physicians, therapists, nurses, chiropractors - any professional who is interested in helping their patients with their lower back pain (LBP). Additionally, this book is a MUST read for patients like myself who was searching, searching and searching for cutting-edge information on LBP. For four months I suffered with extreme over-the-edge pain from a nerve impingement caused by an L5-S1 bulging disc. I was prescribed medication and physical therapy with no relief. I then proceeded to have two epidural treatments - but again, with no relief. Fortunately I bumped into a Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT)-credentialed Physical Therapist who scheduled me for an assessment and then treatment. Next I found out about this book - and information is power! I poured through the content and in a short time became more and more confident and motivated to do everything under my power to get well. Close to scheduling surgery at one point, I am now symptom-free.

From my LBP journey, I am encouraged that the medical community seems to be leaning towards recommending least invasive strategies for their patients including medication, Physical Therapy and advice to stay active. However, after reading this book, it should become rapidly apparent that an additional recommendation of an MDT assessment should be given. By doing so, weeks and months of endless pain may be averted - not to mention the endless dollars necessary for medication and medical procedures and the dollars spent on Worker's Compensation and Medical Disability. Are you listening insurance industry?

Some things in here are worth reading if you dont get caught up in all research study lingo that is repeated over...and over...and over...and over. Then it goes on to say that R. Mckenzie (Physical Therapist) method is best for most. It did explain not just ext. exs. but how Mckenzie came about with all direcional preferance's. I waould save my money and just but the ten dollar Mckenzie Back and Neck books. Good luck!

Where to begin... This book was terrible. He drones on and on talking about nothing. Really just a lot of complaining about a lack of consensus on the treatment of low back pain. What is his miraculous solution he promises will be life altering?? A re-wrapped (and poorly done) version of the Makenzie Classification and Treatment system. So pretty much, this was a poorly done hack job of someone else's hard work. This book sounds like one guy blogging about what he doesn't like about our medical system and how he wants things to change and improve without ever giving a single good original thought. The people who rated this book highly are on of the following: someone who didn't actually read the book, someone who likes whining, someone who is clearly not a healthcare professional, or someone who is trying to mislead you as a practical joke.

If this book hadn't been given to me, I'd be calling the author directly requesting a refund.

If you want a poorly written book that complains a lot, gives you very little useful information, and gives a poor explanation of someone else's concepts--get this book.

If you want something useful (and not plagiarized)--keep looking.

Finally there is an MD who is willing to support what many physical therapist who use the McKenzie method of MDT (Mechanical diagnosis and therapy) has been saying for years. "ALL patients deserve a mechanical evaluation".

Dr. Donelson goes into great detail why a mechanical diagnosis and evaluation is important and supports his words with current and reliable research.
This is THE BOOK to buy and memorize before speaking to any spine surgeon or, if you tried everything out there and still have back pain, it will be an eye opener.

A true pioneer, Dr. Donelson explains the assessment process and the mistakes that were made in the past regarding guidelines for lower back pain treatment.

The bottom line: Baby boomers are asking for help at an increasing rate! They and other groups have a lot of experience with pain "management" but wants to get the final answer on how to treat and prevent lower back pain and sciatica themselves. This book is the first to answer it from an MD stand point and with the BEST references to support the ideas behind MDT.

A must have to all physiotherapists that deal with LBP in a daily basis and want to understand what evidence based really means.

Eduardo Corrêa PT;COMT;PgDiplMT

This is a very precise overview of the McKenzie Method that actually would help cut down the cost of healthcare if there were 2 aspects in place:

1 - Practitioners who knew the method and how to apply treatment principles properly as a result of a precise assessment.

2 - General Practitioners who would recognize a musculoskeletal injury that would benefit from the McKenzie Method.

I run an online Physical Therapy clinic at [...] and this is the ONLY method that can be used this way to properly assess and treat patients with out ever touching them.

I had hoped to find this book with more reviews and exposure, but seems like the head-butting community of therapists and chiro's who would rather rip on one another about how their method is the best (even with zero evidence) and how McKenzie has no place in treating musculoskeletal pain.

In summary, if you want an eye opening look into the 2+2=4 method of assessing and treating back pain and other musculoskeletal injuries, this is the book for you.

I've spent more than twenty years in a profession that is so misunderstood not only by its own (PTs) but by all other medical professionals, insurance companies and through them - the public......
Knowing how to systematically evaluate and treat non specific low back pain, educating patients and involving them in the process of helping them to help themselves, understanding pain patterns and knowing when conservative care is sufficient and when it has been exhausted, all this and more are introduced in Dr Donelson's book.