Customer Reviews

Wear and Tear: Stop the Pain and Put the Spring Back in Your Body

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I enjoyed Dr. Bob Arnot's "Wear And Tear: Stop The Pain And Put The Spring Back In Your Body." It's called a complete anti-aching program on the cover, and I find it a very useful book of advice for those who have the aches and pains from using your body the way it was meant to be used, to the fullest. It focuses on the wear and tear that erodes joints and stiffens ligaments and tendons and what you can do about it.

The first part of the book deals with what causes wear and tear. The five chapters are Heal Pounders, Stiff Man Syndrome, Fatal Flaws, The Weak Link, and Overload. These chapters focus on proper biomechanics, the lack of stretching and becoming stiff, skeletal malalignment, loss of muscle strength, and overloading your body with excess fat. The chapters are easy to understand and informative.

Part two is the section of the book I liked the most, it focuses on beating wear and tear. The first chapter of part two, chapter six, contains methods for killing the pain. Dr. Arnot discusses the options of painkillers like Acetaminophen, NSAIDs, and Aspirin. He also addresses other methods including topical analgesics, injections, acupuncture, and massage.

The next chapter is one protecting your joints and the chapter makes the case for taking glucosamine and chondroitin. Dr. Arnot addressed why they work, side effects, and the Arthritis Foundation recommendations among other things in this chapter.

Chapter eight is called Fix the Flaws and discusses correct shoes and other solutions for different problems causing wear and tear. This includes some expert picks for shoes, but since they come out with new models faster than new cars, actual shoes may have changed, but the advice as what to look for is still good.

Chapter nine, Restore Your Joints, is a very good chapter about how yoga can help reduce the pain of wear and tear. Dr. Arnot tells why yoga works, how to do a yoga program, warnings regarding some postures, breathing, and targets. The chapter contains some drawings of simple postures to begin with. I think the chapter is enough to get a person motivated to seek out further yoga instruction or resources to incorporate into a health and fitness program.

The next chapter, Build Protective Strength, is a short chapter on the importance of strength training and includes a few exercises. I agree this is very important, and think one should seek out resources that focus on strength training to further their education in this area. The next chapter continues with this theme and has a little on plyometrics and lunges. Again, there are better resources out there, but this book should get you motivated to seek them out and start doing strength exercises.

Chapter 12 is a primer on diet. It' called Lighten the Load and has the basics of sound nutrition. It's very short, and there are more resources you'll want to get on this too, but it let's you know that diet and how much you weigh effects your joints.

The last chapter suggests some joint-friendly sports and then the book ends with an appendix on joint nutrition and a glossary.

As we age, we seem to have little aches and pains creep up on us. Dr. Arnot's "Wear And Tear" is a practical guide on slowing this wear and tear down, as well as preventing it in the first place.

Reviewed by Alain Burrese, J.D., author of Hard-Won Wisdom From the School of Hard Knocks.

I have to disagree with the anonymous reader who accused the book of being a commercial for glucosamine. (An endorsement is not the same thing as a commercial). I believe that the information in "Wear And Tear" will be of genuine help to people willing to try the ideas presented here.

Actually it seems to me that the proper title of this book should be "Turning Back The Clock II: Undoing the Damage from The First Book". In "Wear And Tear", Arnot talks extensively about the wear and tear on the body caused by high volume endurance exercise - which is almost exactly his prescription for health and longevity in "Turning Back The Clock". His candid descriptions of his own joint and health problems are obviously a direct result of all the running, biking and cross country exteme events he did in the previous book - although he never actually admits the connection. If you are paying attention, this tends to damage his credibility as an expert - he was 100% sure about his methods in his last book, but now he's hurting and achy, so now he's 100% sure about his new methods. Indian yoga masters and Chinese Tai Chi masters and Pilates instructors and even physical therapists around the country would laugh at him until their sides hurt.

Even so, as a long time beliver in the pre-hab/rehab power of a well designed hatha yoga practice, I was impressed that Arnot advocated a very well known "hot" yoga system (Bikram Yoga) as part of a daily restoration routine. I also appreciated his explaining both the "how" and the "why" of each of his modes of self help, and that he made practical, easily implemented suggestions for each method; and other helpful exercises (besides yoga), stress reduction methods and nutritional supplements (including dosages, and specific brand names).

I learned a few good things from this book, and I already know more about the subject than 90% of the mainstream American audience. So you may not NEED this book...but it will be a worthwhile entry in your health and fitness library if you decide to buy it.

I haven't read "the arthritis cure" so can't comment on the other reviewer's "rehash" perception. The presentation looks highly suspicious, I bought it on the small chance it would actually help my knee pain....then I was surprised to find that some of his stuff actually works. Immediately. Wow, my joints honestly did feel "like silk" after one of his yoga sessions.

Bob Arnot is a friendly an interesting newsperson but not a great writer.

Provides nothing new from the original, gold-standard book "The Arthritis Cure."

Basically, this book is a thinly veiled attempt to sell a second-rate glucosamine product, Move Free. This is made by Schiff, the Weider company associated with all of those silly body-building magazines, potions and pills. Schiff's website gives us the clue to this association. Move Free has an unproven mixture of glucosamine forms.

I happened to pick up this book at my in-laws' house because I have had a year-and-a-half-long problem with plantar faciitis and heal pain. My podiatrist calls me a difficult case. I have tried physical therapy, cushioned insoles, cortizone shots, icing, night splints and oral meds- they have not improved my problems. After reading the book (I pretty much got the information I needed in 2 evenings of reading) I took a walk around the block-something I had not done painlessly in months. Using one small and simple change suggested in his book, my pain was practically eliminated! No matter who wrote the information first, I want to thank Dr. Arnot for writing his book because it has instantly changed my life. I have cancelled my upcoming appointment with my podiatrist to give his other suggestions a try. My money may be better spent this way. I recommend others give his book a try as well, even if you aren't suffering from arthritis...yet. It is good information for your entire family.