The Truth About Back Pain: A Revolutionary, Individualized Approach to Diagnosing and... by DC, Todd Sinett and DC, Sheldon Sinett

“A killer resource for anyone who has dealt with crippling or nagging back pain that doesn’t respond to traditional treatments.”
—Monica Neave, Exercise Editor

Owner Reviews, Ratings, Comments and Criticism
The authors do a great job of explaining holistic causes and remedies for back problems. Let me start by saying that I am comparing this to Stuart McGill's (a PhD in spine biomechanics who backs up his statements with hard evidence in a lab) two back biomechanics books. The Sinetts' statements agree with McGill on many issues, but there are some exercises that may be harmful, according to what I've read from McGill and others. On page 108 the plank is very helpful, but the Sinetts say to pull the navel into the spine. {From the New York Times: "Critics, including personal trainers and specialists in the spine and biomechanics, are now saying that drawing in may not make sense while, say, lifting weights or performing a crunch or running a race. In fact, some say, drawing in may even be counterproductive. "If you hollow in, you bring the muscles closer to the spine, and you reduce the stability of the spine," said Stuart McGill, a professor of spine biomechanics in the department of kinesiology at the University of Waterloo in Ontario. Try rising from a chair with a hollowed out stomach; not only are you "weak," he said, but "it's very difficult." Dr. McGill, who has treated patients with back disorders for 25 years, has measured spinal loading forces and their effects on spinal stability with computer models and in test subjects wired to computers. His findings dispute not only the validity of drawing in, but also the very notion that the transverse abdominus plays a pivotal role in stability. All abdominal and back muscles are important, not just this one, Dr. McGill said."} On pages 110,111, and 112 there are exercises telling you to lie on your back and lift your straight legs up. This may be activating your psoas muscles much more than your abdominal muscles. If your psoas muscles are too strong and tight, they will pull on your lower back, where they are attached after running from the front of your hip through your pelvis. These are not good for my lower back. I'm glad the authors dispel the myths regarding how to get six pack abs and how pursuing them can actually create back problems. Also they say that some Pilates exercises can create more problems. I never had back problems until I tried Pilates, which puts a lot of emphasis on the psoas, which pulls on the lower back. Look this up on the internet. The book is written in a very ego-less and friendly style that is easy to read and comprehend. I believe the authors were very sincere in this effort to help, since there are no sensationalist claims or exaggerations. The stories of their clinical experience are also helpful.