Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A starting point for all sufferers from back pain, 4 Dec 2006
The first time you get severe back pain will be disconcerting and probably frightening. I read this book as one who has suffered back pain occasionally and with varying severity for more than 15 years. I have had a lot of good advice and some not so good over that period, and have learned the difference the hard way.
This small book, just 21 pages, is written in a very straightforward, clear style by a team of 5 experts from a range of medical disciplines and oozes authority.
It's an excellent, simple reference book that will reassure the sufferer and give them confidence when discussing their problem and their needs with doctors and other health professionals, work colleagues and bosses, and well-meaning friends and neighbours.
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13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
An evidence based approach to Back Pain, 15 Aug 2006
The back book presents the new approach to back pain and offers effective information about it. A unique and unusual book on back pain which does not begin with the anatomy, physiology and biomechanics of the spine. The reader can not find any specific exercise such as stabilizing techniques, flexor or extensor exercises. It also does not avoid the patients from different activities or specific tasks. All mentioned items make the book different from all other leaflets and booklets on this concept. This might be due to the fact that the book is not based on biomechanical models and biomedical approaches. Still, according to the authors1, the book is strictly evidence-based and in line with current concept and guidelines. The Authors of the book are among the most influential researchers on back pain: Professor Martin Roland, Professor Gordon Waddell, Dr. Jennifer Klaber Moffett, Professor Kim Burton and Professor Chris Main.
The back book is a simple, user-friendly book which summarizes hundreds of articles and books on the current concept of back pain. On the other hand, it translates all the current research, articles and systematic reviews about back pain for the community and patients. Still the book is easy to read. Waddell (2004) highlighted the fact that the authors deliberately put efforts to make it easy to read. The reader can not find common expressions used in the current guidelines such as "Red Flogs", "yellow Flags", "fear-avoidance belief", "biomechanical model" and "biopsychosocial approach", but in reality it addresses all of them in the patient's language. Regardless of different sections of the book, the main messages are simple: stay active, avoid prolonged rest and stay at work. I would rather to borrow two more expressions from one of the authors explaining the concept of the book: It tries to "de medicalize" the problem of back pain1.
Several studies carried out on the impact of the book on community professionals. Burton et al (1999) conducted a Randomized Control Trial and compared the impact of the Back Book with another traditional booklet2. The outcome of the study showed that the Back Book is more effective than other booklet in improving the beliefs about back pain and physical activity. It also reduces the disability of patient at 3 month. Buchbinder et al (2001, 2005) carried out a public media campaign on the Australian population based on the messages of this book3. The results show that providing positive messages about back pain can successfully alter the views of community and physicians toward the problem. A significant sustained improvement in the population beliefs was observed 3 years after cessation of the campaign4.
The book begins with the new approach to back pain and continues with the following sections :
Back facts: This section tries to change traditional beliefs about back pain.
Causes of Back pain: This section presents spine as a strong structure and the utility of investigations such as X- ray and MRI.
Rest or stay active? The disadvantages of rest and the reason that rest does not treat back pain are explained in this section.
Activity is good: The advantages of staying active and useful activities and exercises are explained in this section.
Then the book explains the origin of pain and methods to control the pain. The effect of anxiety and stress on the amount of pain and several ways to reduce stress are explained.
The book describes different daily activities and dealing with them. Then the roles of doctors, warning signs, and finally a few more facts will follow and terminate the book. Overall, the book revolves about the idea that back pain is a symptom not a disease.
This book is highly recommended for patients, physiotherapists, doctors and specialists in our country. It can revolutionize the concept of back pain. This simple and short book can change the perceptions, attitudes, behaviors and even culture of public about back pain.
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4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Do not purchase this booklet, 20 Nov 2007
I ordered this "book" and received a small booklet, 20 pages long which looks like it has come free from Tesco ! The information contained in this booklet could have been said on the first page, there are no exercises, the whole booklet was about relaxing and not worrying. I found this leaflet a complete waste of money.
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