Low Back Disorders: Evidence-based Prevention and Rehabilitation (Hardcover)

by Stuart McGill (Author)
Key Phrases: clinical biomechanics, sufficient spine stability, passive tissue forces, Functional Anatomy of the Lumbar Spine, Elsevier Science, Developing the Exercise Program (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
""McGill's text on "Low Back Disorders" is one that every treating clinician should have for their own professional library.""
-"AAESS News "(Australian Association for Exercise and Sports Science)
""This is a fine blend between science and practical application by a credible author. The author is in a unique position to share his own valuable research and clinical experience to advance the treatment of alleviating low back disorders." "
Doody's Book Review Service

Product Description
Access the latest research and applications to build effective prevention and rehabilitation programs for your patients or clients with Low Back Disorders: Evidence-Based Prevention and Rehabilitation, Second Edition. Internationally recognized low back specialist Stuart McGill presents original research to quantify the forces that specific movements and exercises impose on the low back, dispels myths regarding spine stabilization exercises, and suggests prevention approaches and strategies to offset injuries and restore function.

Low Back Disorders: Evidence-Based Prevention and Rehabilitation, Second Edition, presents a clear exposition of back anatomy and biomechanics and demonstrates how to interpret the latest research on low back involvement for clinical applications. The text also contains detailed information on injuries associated with seated work and sport and ergonomic issues related to manual handling of materials. With Low Back Disorders: Evidence-Based Prevention and Rehabilitation, Second Edition, you will

• gain valuable information on measured loading of the back during specific activities and apply it to avoid common--but counterproductive--practices in back rehabilitation;
• learn how to analyze each patient's or client's unique physical characteristics and lifestyle factors to tailor preventive measures and treatments to individual needs;
• learn how to help patients and clients progress through the stages of rehabilitation: corrective exercise, stability or mobility, endurance, and strength; and
• acquire the information necessary to design an effective injury-prevention program.

This fully updated second edition expands knowledge of low back disorders and best practices in several areas. Enhanced algorithms guide progressive therapeutic exercise, and specially designed patient assessment provocation tests aid you in determining the cause of back troubles, guide your choices in the best ways to eliminate problems, and improve the development of appropriate activities for functional gain. Whereas the first edition focused on increasing spine stability, the second edition provides new information on dealing with both regional instability or mobility and regional stiffness present in individuals where most of the motion occurs at a single spinal segment.

With an expanded repertoire of pain-free motion exercises and additional information on ways to find and adjust stabilization exercises, Low Back Disorders: Evidence-Based Prevention and Rehabilitation, Second Edition, offers you new tools to help your patients and clients achieve pain-free exertion.

The text includes exercises and activities that provide a solid foundation of physical work in preparation for more advanced activities in sports and occupations. Also, the process of transitioning into performance exercise is outlined with an explanation of the critical stages of the performance pyramid, including the design of appropriate corrective exercise, building joint and whole-body stability, enhancing endurance, training true strength, and transitioning to ultimate performance.

Low Back Disorders: Evidence-Based Prevention and Rehabilitation, Second Edition, presents foundational information and corresponding clinical applications in a clear, well-sequenced format. Part I builds your knowledge of lumbar function and injury. Part II demonstrates how to use this knowledge to build evidence-based injury-prevention programs by assessing risks, creating ergonomic interventions, and training personnel. Part III focuses on improving rehabilitation techniques, including specific diagnostic and provocative tests, with specific therapeutic exercises proven to enhance performance and reduce pain through a continuum from corrective exercise to stability and mobility, endurance, strength, and power.

Additionally, the text offers these practical features to guide your learning and inform your practice:

• More than 475 photos, graphs, and charts support the research and the scientific basis for the text's conclusions.
• More than 50 tests and exercises with step-by-step instructions help you develop successful programs for your patients and clients.
• Special sections highlight how the anatomical, biomechanical, and research results can be applied to clinical situations.
• Extensive discussions on individualizing treatment for clients or patients help you improve your assessment skills by learning what questions to ask and what avenues of investigation to pursue with each patient or client.
• Reproducible handout sheets for each of the 25 basic rehabilitation exercises, which include photos and blank lines for instructions, enable the creation of instruction sheets tailored to the current needs and progress rates of each patient or client.

Cutting-edge research and evidence-based application strategies from the leading spine specialist in North America make Low Back Disorders: Evidence-Based Prevention and Rehabilitation, Second Edition, the authoritative text for study, care, and treatment of the low back. Its unique approach to back care will guide you in developing intervention, rehabilitation, and prevention programs to address the unique needs of each patient or client and develop a strong scientific foundation for your practice.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 328 pages
• Publisher: Human Kinetics Publishers; 2 edition (August 30, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0736066926
• ISBN-13: 978-0736066921
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #15,539 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #6 in	Books > Professional & Technical > Medical > Pharmacology > Pain Medicine
  #7 in	Books > Science > Medicine > Pharmacology > Pain Medicine
  #12 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Aging > Backache

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A 'must read' for everyone who deals with backs, January 28, 2006

By	T. Jordan (Columbus, OH USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Low Back Disorders: Evidence-Based Prevention and Rehabilitation (Hardcover)

Everyone who deals with backs, either in sports (athletes, coaches, trainers), physicians, therapists, and back pain patients themselves, should read this book. I am a physician who specializes in back disorders and back pain. I have followed Dr. McGill's reseach for many years and it has revolutionized my practice like nothing else. One of my top priorities with back pain patients is to review what exercises they have been given in the past. I invariably stop them from doing several excercises that Dr. McGill's research has proven to be quite harmful for the back. I Substitute the 'big three' excercises that are described in this book, and many of the patients need no further intervention. There is a great deal of misinformation regarding back excercise, and many of the excercise routines used in sports, schools, military, and fitness centers are harmful. That is why this book is so important; not because it gives another fitness guru's opinion, but because it gives good, scientifically based facts on one of the tougher clinical issues from a world renown expert. Thank you Dr. McGill - keep the research coming!
Also check out Dr. McGill's other book "Ultimate back fitness and performance" for a less technically dense description of many of the same issues.

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Help for Sufferers of Low Back Pain, December 25, 2002

By	Ruth Shannon (Boulder, CO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Low Back Disorders: Evidence-Based Prevention and Rehabilitation (Hardcover)

This is a superb book that is useful for both clinicians and patients alike. Using methods based on electromyographic measurements published by McGill and his colleagues in many scientific journals, he ascertains which muscles are activated in a variety of exercises. This becomes important for patients who have low back problems and must avoid heavy spine loads both in the fitness center and at work. He lists a variety of commonly prescribed exercises that should be avoided by persons with low back problems: sit ups, pelvic tilts, leg raises, low back extension exercises on machines and hip flexion exercises using the Roman chair. He then recommends a series of exercises that are designed to strengthen back muscles and stabilize the spine while at the same time minimizing spinal compression that could exacerbate back problems: the curl-up, side bridges and "bird dog" leg extensions.

This book should be recommended reading for all physical therapists and strength trainers with clients having low back problems and is a must for those suffering from low back pains.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dr. Mcgill - Miracle Cure, June 28, 2005

By	Paul Natale (Toronto) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Low Back Disorders: Evidence-Based Prevention and Rehabilitation (Hardcover)

I have had chronic lower back pain for over 25 years. I have been to back specialists, the Back Institute, Acupunturists, Massage Therapists, and many Chiropractors. In addition, I read many books on my problem. I have a classic case of acute lower back pain - degenerative discs and some arthritis. I followed the Back Institute's regimen of exercises for 20 years and my family doctors for 5 years. I now realize I was given the wrong exercises and aggrivated the situation.

Two acquiantences recommended Dr. Mcgill's exersises in his book "Lower Back Disorders". I started doing the "Curl Ups", the "Side Bridge" and the "Birddog" exercises. For over one and a half years I have been virtually pain free. I can't believe it. In the past, every year the pain would become so severe I would miss work and be flat on my back.

This past year I have been doing extensive renovations around my home and cottage. I have been lifting 70lb. bundles of shingles up ladders, digging trenches, and moving yards of top soil. My back seems very flexible. Generally I feel great. Some days after the extreme physical activity I feel discomfort. This is caused by sore muscles and arthritis in my pelvic region. I have not had any immobility like in the past.

Finding Dr Mcgill's book was a miracle for me. I feel like I was "cured". I have highly recommended it to many of my friends.