The Egoscue Method of Health Through Motion: Revolutionary Program That Lets You Rediscover the Body's Power to Rejuvenate It (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Imagine a man and a woman..." (more)
Key Phrases: air bench, supine groin, dysfunctional hip, The Games We Play, Our Elders, Quiet Desperation (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Modern humans move far less than our forebears did, which Egoscue claims causes muscular weakness that can affect bodily alignment. When muscle weakness causes one side of the body to bear less than its share of the weight, the resulting distortion may cause dysfunction and pain in many areas. Egoscue, who runs clinics in California and Florida, shows three common "conditions" of misalignment and offers simple exercises designed to counteract the condition by strengthening the relevant muscles. He also discusses the most popular types of aerobic exercises and how they may affect each condition. A good purchase for public libraries.
- Susan B. Hagloch, Tuscarawas Cty. P.L., New Philadelphia, Ohio
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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"Peter Escogue totally changed my life." -- -- from the Foreword by Jack Nicklaus

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks (August 4, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060924306
• ISBN-13: 978-0060924300
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (55 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #20,261 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

109 of 109 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Which Egoscue book should you buy first?, November 3, 2006

By	Clopper Almon Jr (College Park, MD) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

There are now (2006) four books by Pete Egoscue available: (1) "The Egoscue Method of Health Through Motion" (1992), (2) "Pain Free" (1998), (3) "Pain Free at your PC" (1999) and (4) "Pain Free for Women" (2002). If you are suffering from musculoskeletal pain and someone has recommended Egoscue to you or you are impressed with the testimonials in the Amazon reviews, you may well ask yourself, "Which book should I buy first?" Probably the second, "Pain Free" but each has its merits.

All the books are based on two generally recognized propositions: (1) in a healthy human the lines connecting the two ankles or the two knees or the two hips or the two shoulders should all be horizontal and the feet and knees should point straight forward when walking or standing without thinking about one's posture, and (2) deviations from this structure usually originate with the position of the pelvis. Trying to correct the manifestation of the misaligned pelvis will not help until the fundamental problem is fixed.

In the first book, Egoscue describes a self-diagnosis which puts you in one of four categories based largely on your posture when standing in a natural, relaxed way. Once you know your category, you turn to page 127 to find your menu of exercises. The exercises are presented in alphabetical order; you look up the exercises on your menu, learn and do them. You may need as much as 90 minutes a day or as little as 30, depending on the severity of your condition.

Of the first book, Egoscue says in the second (page 282) "[It was] a pretty ambitious theme. This one, 'Pain Free,' is more more modest." I think that means that the reader had to work harder to understand the first than the second. People in pain do not immediately know which category they fall into. But they do know where they hurt. So "Pain Free", after a brief explanation of the fundamental theory, is organized by where the pain is: feet, ankles, knees, hips, back, shoulders, arms, and neck and head. For each area, Egoscue gives exercises. Many exercises are used for more than one area, but everywhere the exercise is used, a picture of the exercise is repeated and the page number where is was described in full is given. The result is definitely easier to use. Also, there are a number of new exercises for specific problems, such as a herniated disk in the spine. Initially, your program of exercises may require 90 minutes or more, but most of the time is spent on one particular exercise. Once pain is gone for a week or more, the maintenance exercises (pages 277-282) should not take more than about 20 minutes a day.

The third book, "Pain Free at your PC" is aimed, obviously, at PC users. Egoscue distinguishes three categories, but if you use a PC more than about an hour a day, you are in the third category. Initially, you'll need 80 minutes a day at home and 5 minutes at the office, but most of that 80 minutes is on one exercise, the supine groin stretch, and the time needed for it will diminish. If you are a "power user" of the PC, you are at serious risk of developing musculoskeletal pain, not because of any problem with your PC or your chair or your desk, but because, for hours at a time, you are not moving the main muscles that hold body together and make it work. They atrophy, and problems develop. Egoscue's exercises are designed to cure or avoid those problems. If you are a heavy PC user, you could start with this one.

I have not read "Pain Free for Women" since I was clearly not in its target audience. It would be a mistake, however, for women to conclude that since this book is specifically for them the other books don't apply. Every word of the other books applies equally to men and women. This one, however, has chapters on pregnancy, childbirth, and other specifically feminine matters. For herniated disks, aching feet, and other problems common to both sexes, I would suggest "Pain Free" first.

The Egoscue book that I want to read is the one that has not been written, the one that explains Egoscue's own thinking, what each exercise does and why certain exercises should be done before others. On these questions, all the books are silent and rather dogmatic. The reader is supposed to know what the "hip flexors" are but is presumed unable to understand why one exercise should precede others. Egoscue, however, rearranges them in numerous orders. What does he know that he doesn't tell? Because of that problem, I have given the books only four stars.

113 of 116 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gave me back my active physical life., June 22, 1999

By	[e-mail] (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews

For most of my adult life after 40 I had suffered from low back and hip pain. I reluctantly accepted the fact that I would have to stop or cut back on some athletic activities. Also, heavy yard work and the like. My typical routine was to see a chiropractor every two weeks and get an adjustment. Three years ago my back went out so severly that I could not even lie down comfortably for treatment. My third chiropractor, one recommended by a friend, changed my life. After examining me he informed me that my muscular-skeletal system was so misaligned that an adjustment wouldn't be enough. The chiropractor recommeded I pick up "The Egoscue Method of Health Through Motion", and proceed with the level 2 exercises/stretches. Within one week I was literally a new man. It also gave me more motion in my shoulders and neck. I incorporate a few of the stretches everyday now. I have not been back to a chiropractor since and I have never felt better. I have recommended this book to many people. Those that take the time to do the stretches always have gotten positive results. I am now 55 years old. I lift weights. I mountain bike. The important thing is I have complete confidence in my bodies ability to recover from any strenuous activity. I have been given a new lease on life do to this amazing book.. Thank you Pete Egoscue.

36 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended, March 17, 2006

By	Grass Tiger (Wadsworth, IL United States) - See all my reviews

Back in early 2001 I was diagnosted with severe multiple chemical sensitivities. I became very ill and deteriated rapidly to the point that I had to stop working. In July of 2002 I was looking through the health books of my local library trying to find anything that might help. I saw this title and was instantly curious. I took the book home and started the e-cises at once. Although I was very ill and all my joints hurt awful I was able to do these simple exercises, which are more like basic physical therapy exercises than typical "exercises". I could only do them for a few seconds at first and that made me sore all over for days, but gradually I was able to do them for longer. Within one week I stopped having night sweats! It was amazing. Within two months the yellowing of my skin went away and my liver enzyme levels dropped. Within two years I lost the limp I'd had since I was 11 and had surgery on one of my feet. At first I was so far out of alignment if I stood properly my knees felt like they were being pulled inwards very hard. But now, I stand almost perfectly. I've even gained an inch in height since I stand taller. Movement is much easier than it has been since I was a teen (I'm in my mid-thirties). I also haven't had the dizziness episodes and many other things. I'm still severely chemically sensitive and disabled, but being able to get up and down off the floor, not have severe joint pain and being able to move has been absolutely wonderful. I have read his other books and my favorite is "Pain Free for Women" as my body seemed to enjoy the movements better. Now this can't necessarily fix everything. I have a rotated hip and according to my pediatrist it is because of my foot surgery, but I'm a lot better off than I would have been as I'm able to use my knees more now than before. There are also Egoscue clinics that you can find on his website. I am thinking of going to one to get a specialized set of ecises. I've recommended Egoscues books to many people including my husband and they've all started to do the ecises with wonderful results. About two years ago I started doing yoga and did fewer of Egoscue's ecises and I've found that pairing these exercises works wonderfully for me.