Jim Wharton

I first bought this book in 2002 as a set of 3 of their books. It impressed me even before I bought it.

With my wife recovering from surgery, I dug it out to look at it again. It took 4 months of looking to find the book. Once I looked inside it, I remembered that for some of the exercises greater clarity would be nice. In checking Amazon, I hoped there would be a newer edition. Even though it is not a second edition, I bought the Kindle for convenience. The price was low enough that it will be handy to have it on Kindle as well as the paper copy.

It is excellent as a reference book. Each exercise has a diagram of expected range of motion: Labeled ‘Too tight / Normal / Elite / Hypermobile,” which give an idea where one falls with respect to the general population, and if in the “too tight” range, one might want to work on that exercise.… (more)

Three guesses why I read this book. I bought it in 2004 because I had read this author before and was delighted with what I found. Their writing style is delightful, and trustworthy. These brothers really know their material. They are thorough.

Now, having had back pain that put me in bed for four days September 2017. And then again in October 2017, I decided that it is time to get serious about the right kind of exercise. I soon got out of pain, so this book got set aside. Having gotten back into reading it, I am again delighted with their writing and the useful information contained in the book.

“End back pain — now and forever — with this simple, revolutionary program” (Front cover)

It might be simple, but it is involved enough that to do the 20 minute routine I was constantly referring to the book to make sure that I was doing the exercises correctly. After some days I got the routines down.

Contents (Close to 400 pages)
Part 1: The Pain-Free Back
1. A New way to think about your back
2. Posture and pressures all the way down your spine
1. Section: Squatting for Rest (Page 21): This is fascinating because when I lived in Japan the old grandmothers were really good at squatting, and as a young American adult, I found it quite difficult.
3. Tracing pains mystical links
Part 2: Try PREhab Not Rehab
4. The Wharton’s’ active-isolated plan for flexible, strong pain-free backs (Active-isolated stretch was a hallmark of the earlier book that I have of theirs)
Part 3: Stoping the Pain
5. Namin — and taming — your most common ahces
6. When it’s time to seek help, a guide to back doctors
7. After the diagnosis, getting out of pain quickly
1. The following are not all the sections in chapter 7, just ones that caught my attention.
2. Diagnosis: Degenerative Disk Disease: p 149-152: Nine exercises
3. Diagnosis: Radiculopathy: p 166-167
4. Diagnosis: Sciatica: p 169-170
5. Diagnosis: Spondylosis: p 175-176 a common degenerative disease... most likely caused by age related changes in intervertebral disks.
Part 4: Protecting Your Back as Your Body Changes
8. Taking off the pounds
9. Enjoying a pain-free pregnancy
10. Standing tall against osteoporosis
11. Limber back, youthful body
Part 5: Stress and Slumber
12. Putting tension behind you
13. Now I lay me down to sleep
Part 6: Pain-Free Solutions for Everyday Situations
14. Your healthy back at work
15. Your healthy back at home
16. Your healthy back on the road
17. Your healthy back at play

For More Information: Internet Resources for the Back
There is a paragraph with a clear description of what you can fine at each of the reference sources.… (more)