Overview
Back Stability: Integrating Science and Therapy, Second Edition, is designed to help practitioners recognize and manage back conditions using proven clinical approaches to stabilize the spine. More than just another sequence of back exercises, this text provides a theoretical foundation that will guide you in selecting the most effective exercises for each client and integrating them into a complete program to offer the best possible care in back health.
A focus on evidence-based practice pervades Back Stability to address one of the most common maladies of modern living: back pain. This text combines research from around the world in the areas of anatomy, physiology, pathology, biomechanics, exercise physiology, and motor skill training with the practical knowledge of author Christopher Norris, a physiotherapist, exercise professional, and teacher for more than 30 years. With his expertise, you will gain the practical knowledge to help you recognize and assess inappropriate movement patterns—whether caused by injury or simple day-to-day activity—and use a process of clinical decision making to determine which exercises to use in developing effective back care programs.
In addition to updated research, the second edition has undergone many changes that improve the book's layout and make it more user friendly:
-The 33 new exercises as well as modified versions of previous exercises help refine and customize each program.
-Detailed teaching elements throughout the book provide constructive and motivating ways to prescribe exercises to clients and patients.
-Photographs clearly demonstrate each exercise technique and, where appropriate, are overlayed with arrows or lines to show proper body alignment.
-A second color is integrated throughout the text, enhancing the visual flow.
-Bullet points summarize and facilitate quick reference of exercise technique, and checklists aid in exercise prescription.
-A larger format for the text allows for a more attractive presentation with bigger photos and easier recognition of important information.
The second edition of Back Stability is organized into five parts that follow a logical progression from initial concepts to clinical applications. The text introduces the problems of back pain and instability and provides an explanation of spinal anatomy, movements, and the physics of lifting. A discussion follows of the basic skills required for developing stability. Assessments of posture and muscle balance are highlighted, and foundational movements for development of core stability are introduced.
After covering the basics, the text moves into more practical applications by presenting progressive exercises and basic equipment used for developing greater stability. Information on abdominal training, resistance apparatus, speed and power, and practical functional progressions will help your patients or clients increase back stability and enhance performance. Finally, real-life patient examples illustrate how to structure a full back stability program.
Back Stability: Integrating Science and Therapy, Second Edition, presents an alternative method for the treatment of back pain and provides each patient or client the opportunity to actively participate in recovery and maintenance. By integrating the science behind back pain into a useable format for understanding and application, Back Stability offers proven methods of care and assists your work with clients and patients to alleviate their pain, increase their back stability, and help them return to a fully functional lifestyle.
Editorials
From The Critics
Reviewer: Christopher James Hughes, PT,PhD,OCS,CSCS(Slippery Rock University)Description: This book is written for practitioners who prescribe exercise for patients who suffer from low back pain. Unique to this edition are the photographs of all exercises with key points and teaching points. The previous edition was published in 2000.
Purpose: "The purpose was to update the first edition with more integration of the science underlying the practical application of exercise in treating low back pain so practitioners can easily implement evidence-based care. This is a suitable objective, given the fact that many individuals suffer from low back pain and need guidance in exercise prescription to improve spine stability. "
Audience: "Physical therapists are the main audience, but athletic trainers, exercise physiologists, and personal trainers will also find the book useful. The author, a physiotherapist with over 30 years of clinical experience, operates two private clinics in England that specialize in back rehabilitation. He also is a visiting lecturer at several U.K. universities. "
Features: The book is well organized, the presentation of material is colorful, and drawings are well defined. The 19 chapters are grouped into five parts. Part one thoroughly covers the anatomical and biomechanical basis of the lumbar spine, highlighting key points in bold print throughout. Part two includes chapters on posture, muscle balance, and teaching clients foundation movements to control the spine in a neutral position. Each of the four chapters in part three specifically addresses how to progress stability training using limb loading, unstable base, and gym ball and foam roller props. The first two chapters in part four emphasize proper abdominal training with critical analysis of sit-up and straight leg raise exercises. Plentiful photographs and figures help to clearly present the concepts. Chapter 14 discusses core strength development using resistance training such as free weights and machines. Chapter 15 presents more advanced training techniques using speed and power movements in developing core stability. Chapter 16 is unique in the way the author leads readers through a progression from training performance components of stability to improving a client's functional tasks. The material has a strong ergonomic emphasis. Part five discusses client assessment and essential planning in designing a spine stability program. The book concludes with five case histories to reinforce clinical application of the principles discussed. Unique aspects of the book include the wealth of information it presents, the plentiful figures that effectively demonstrate over 100 exercises easily referenced in its exercise finder index, and the how-to approach to presenting the information.
Assessment: This is a much needed book on exercise prescription for patients with low back pain. Although not clinically diagnostic, the book appropriately promotes movement awareness as one of the essential elements in alleviating back pain and improving spine stability. Very few books currently on the market have such a blend of learning and application dealing in this area. I recommend it as a resource.