Customer Reviews

The Runners' Repair Manual: A Complete Program for Diagnosing and Treating Your Foot, Leg and Back Problems

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I love this book! Part first aid, part do it yourself podiatry. Learn to diagnose and treat running injuries. Shin splints, stress fractures, they cover it all. Then, learn to diagnose and treat the underlying problems.

Everything is clear and practical. Weak arches? Here's how to tape your feet to support them. Need heel cushioning? Use makeup sponges.

This is a must for anyone who runs hard. By learning to diagnose and treat yourself, you'll prevent injuries and improve as a runner.

--Pat / zippy@cs.brandeis.edu

The most comprehensive book in terms of foot related injuries & pain. Problems are discussed & practical solutions are offered.
Unfortunately, it recommends full sit-ups vs back-friendly crunches & it doesn't sufficiently address iliotibial band syndrome - a very common problem for runners.

I was first given this book as a gift when I was a teenager, and I found it to be an invaluable reference for understanding the physiology of various injuries as well as what contributed to the injuries. At times, the oft-repeated mantra of "rest, ice, compression, and elevation" gets old, but it really is on the mark.

This book belongs in every distance runner's library, together with Coe's Better Training for Distance Runners.

This is a very helpful book for runners. I bought it in 1982 when I was doing triathlons and I have consulted it many times in the intervening years and especially recently now that I'm in my 50s and returned to serious running. This book is 31 years old and therefore it desperately requires an update with the latest medical and scientific research plus current training and physiotherapy best practice. My suggestion is that Dr Weisenfeld and Ms Burr team up with someone like Jeff Galloway plus a sports physiotherapist to make this The Necessary Book for every runner's bookshelf!

This book contains a lot of good information, and some that is out-of-date. For example the chapter on how to buy shoes talks about shoe glue as though every runner uses it. I've never heard of it. I'm no expert, but in all my reading and research I should have come across it by now if is so ubiquitous. Also, the chapter on how to run instructs the novice to strike with the heel first because it stretches the calf. There is a lot of emerging information that indicates that heel-striking causes injuries and that a mid-foot strike is best. This book says that a mid-foot strike will cause the calf muscles to tighten.

This book is also a bit sexist. For example: "You ran when you were two- or three-years old and never stopped running till you were about twelve if you're a woman, and sometime later if you are a man." WHAT!!! And don't get me started on the porn-mustaches.

That being said, it does have a lot of good information and I can see myself referencing it for many years.

I bought this book at a race expo many years ago, and it is the most widely used running book I have. It is clearly written and easy to understand. The advice is practical and non technical--and it works! I have lent this book to many of my running buddies who have had aches and pains, and I have used the book a lot myself. In fact, I am ordering a second copy that I can keep for myself since more often than not, when I need it, someone has borrowed it. I strongly recommend this book for anyone who runs.

A very good book, filled with preventative as well as treatments for many running injuries. Wish I would have read this earlier and saved myself a lot of down time, while my injuries healed. Every runner should read this.

This more like a user's manual. A truly useful reference to everything related to being healthy before, during and after your running session. You will even find tips on how to choose the right shoes for you. Learn how to diagnose any discomfort before it becomes a potential injury.

Clear, practical concise, written in a very readable way, you will like this book as much as you like running.

All those little things that are happening either to myself, or to my cross country runners now have some good solid information on treatment and remediation. It is a great help to pinpoint problems for self treatment first rather than see a physician for nagging injuries that will respond to self treatment. It is an easy read but full of information. For example, the neoprene wrap on shoes for runners that have chronic problems with sprained ankles appears to be a clever solution. Good resource, down to earth, practical!

A classic. Much better than any gimmicky "Idiots Guide", this Author provides sound advice along with stretching excercises and other tips that will never go out of style. I wish I had this book BEFORE I started running. Since it was published 25 years ago, it could use a couple of MINOR revisions. This would make a great gift for a new runner.