Back in Shape: A Back Owner's Manual
by Hochschuler, Stephen H.

Publisher:  Houghton Mifflin Company
ISBN:  0395562732

Back in Shape is a wonderful book that will appeal to the tens of millions of individuals who suffer from back pain in the United States every year. Back pain is the second leading cause of missed days of work in the United States, and accounts for a significant portion of the health care expenditures in this country. As a general reference guide, this book will help individuals who suffer from chronic or recurring back pain episodes. Back in Shape shows its readers how to take an active role in their treatment.

The author, Stephen H. Hochschuler, M.D., is co-founder of the Texas Back Institute. He is an orthopaedic surgeon whose training includes medical school at Columbia University, and residency at Harvard University. Dr. Hochschuler is a member of numerous professional organizations, including the American Board of Spine Surgeons. His expertise and devotion to patient education is clearly conveyed through both his efforts with the Texas Back Institute and his writing style in this book.

Back in Shape begins with two chapters of general background information. First, Dr. Hochschuler explains why back pain is a common problem. The second chapter is devoted to helping understand the different causes of this disorder. Its systematic review of this medical information can be a chore to read, but for those with a specific disorder they will find these explanations wonderfully understandable. While this section of the text may not apply to everyone, it is a good reference tool that will help make sense of otherwise mysterious medical lingo.

The emphasis of Back in Shape is on proven techniques to help relieve back pain. Several chapters address exercises, sports, and day-today activities that will help you recover from and avoid back pain. While patients are often looking for “magic bullets” to cure a problem such as back pain, this book explains the proper approach to dealing with this debilitating disorder. The book takes advantage of Cory Everson, a former Ms. Olympia female bodybuilder, for demonstrating the exercises in a clear and reproducible manner in over 100 photographs.

The book finishes with several chapters on more extensive medical management of back pain, including a very helpful section on surgical interventions. While not a necessary step for most individuals, this is a question on every patient’s mind, and Dr. Hochschuler skillfully addresses it. The book address specific questions that patients commonly ask their doctor, and it provides responses to these questions those patients will find clear and understandable. Any individual who has questions about their back pain, and wants to find out what he or she can do about this problem, would find Back in Shape a useful addition to their bookshelf.

Jonathan Cluett, MD, your Guide for Orthopedic Medicine