Injuries Books

Interesting that there's such diverse opinion on this book. I'm in the camp that was disappointed and frustrated. Surely it's a well-intentioned project, and there's lots of information here, but it seems poorly processed - just thrown at the reader, almost as if the author is just showing off her anatomical knowledge. To me the writing is a bit dry and doesn't make the material real, doesn't really relate the knowledge to working with actual bodies. Too much unconnected fact and speculation, not enough energetic personality. I was also irritated that the discussion of the more ethereal, ancient concepts such as the bandhas are presented in the same breath as the medical information, and aren't explained in any depth. I'm on my second read because I'm waiting for new material that I've ordered from the States, but it's sometimes like working with a hostile witness, trying to glean the information that I need.

Susi did a great job of compiling key components of asana instruction and putting in an easily accessible, spiral bound book. She has a clear, succinct style which I find helpful for those who don't have time to sift through the ancient tomes. I have used it to develop my teaching programs.

I was glad that this book was technical enough to help the serious yoga teacher. The drawing made it easy for me to learn. The spiral binding made it easy to use while watching students or myself. The author is clearly incredibly knowledgeable. The pictures and the format made the book fun to look at for a visual learner.

This comprehensive text is dense with information. Although only a few pages, the book is chock full of insightful tips on yoga practice. Aldous uses a multi-sensory approach that I found practical and enlightening. I recommend it for the practioner who needs to feed the brain a bit more information while struggling with "impossible" postures. The manual has a spiral binding for easy use while practicing asanas.

Anatomy and Asana is quite an accomplishment. I took a university course on yoga, and recommended that this text be added to the required reading. Any serious student of yoga, and all instructors, should have this book as a resource. The information is clearly and concisely presented, with illustrations and brief meditative quotes throughout. I agree with the reader below that it complements Coulter's much larger book "The Anatomy of Hatha Yoga" well, and would add, that if you found his text daunting, start here. What makes "Anatomy and Asana" more accessible is that it was created to accompany a live workshop, and has more of a "workbook/presentation" feel. That said, it's amazing how much information is on these pages. You will refer to this yoga resource for years to come.

I purchased this book after I graduated from a fabulous massage program, while awaiting my license. In the first 10 minutes of reading it, I realized I should have had this information BEFORE I started school! The information is concise, practical, and so very important for those of us who heal with our hands. Now that I'm practicing, I refer to it every couple of weeks, especially when I start feeling any pain in my hands or wrists. It gently reminds me to check my own body mechanics, and that there are other ways to help others ~ without hurting myself.

I bought this book as a gift to my daughter who is going to massage school. She said its a great book and very informative.

This is a great book for any massage therapist. It will tell you how to protect your best tool your hands.

As a Licensed massage therapist of 8 years, specializing in deep tissue work, I went through a period of injury early in my career, and turned to Ms. Greene's book to get help and hope. Unfortunately, I came away more nervous than hopeful of being able to continue with many years in a massage career that I enjoyed so much. I learned from a colleague that Ms. Greene does not practice massage anymore, and does indeed make her living off of her book, and lecturing, as another reviewer commented. In her book she takes prevention to some extremes that a massage practitioner of any experience would scoff at. I found that my period of injury was a good time to research as much as I could from various sources and figure out what would help me. (And subsequently my clients) This is not to say that there isn't some good information to be gleened from this book, but the author has given up the practice of massage, just consider the source.

My massage school offered very little information about injury prevention, so this book was an eye-opener for me. I think many students and even professionals don't take care of their own bodies and need the informaton that's in this book. Many of my fellow students became injured while they were in school and didn't know how to deal with it. I have many friends who are massage therapists, and when they have pain they don't know why or what to do about it. I have had pain in my arms several times, and this book helped me figure out why and get the right treatment to keep it from getting worse. I would recommend this book for any massage therapist.

Stricken by a heart attack at the age of 37, Gary Abrahamson, Jr. suffered a severe brain injury due to oxygen deprivation. When his care became too overwhelming for his wife, his parents, Patt and Gary Abrahamson, Sr., stepped in. Since 1989 they have provided him with 24-hour loving and patient care.

This book is the story of Patt and Gary's extensive search for medical and financial help for their son. Patt doggedly explored all avenues available, and even found some unknown to the community at large. She traveled the country interviewing doctors, social workers, hospitals, trauma centers, politicians - any and every entity that could possibly be of help. Her travels through the bureaucratic labyrinth are astounding.

The Abrahamson's persistence and tenacity were finally justified with the awarding of a settlement by the doctors involved in Gary's initial heart attack treatment. They are now in their 70's and are still providing 24-hour care for Gary, but are secure in the knowledge that when they are no longer able to care for him, he will be well provided for.

This is a book that is well worth reading, whether or not your family is somehow involved in a similar situation. It's a story of faith and love, and devotion to one's family. I highly recommend it.

I began to read this book with the idea of being able to learn to help myself (mildly brain injured due to a tumor), and, most especially, to be able to help a close friend who, is in NeuroICU (over 8 weeks as of this writing) from a TBI caused by an assault (still under investigation which is my reason for remaining anonymous). From my own experience I know that he will never be the same person he was. At this time, I don't know what he has been "left with" in terms of function - physical, emotional, or mental. I learned a lot from Mrs. Abrahamson's book, from her experiences as she has negotiated this mine field of so called services and experts..... there is a tremendous amount of misunderstanding and, yes, prejudice against the brain injured. People don't understand that it can't get "all better" with an operation or a medication. Perhaps it's too frightening to imagine and they don't WANT to understand. This is something that can happen to ANY of us. The fact that the injury is "invisible" leaves us open to the misunderstandings and cruelty - we're thought of as "crazy" or "stupid" etc.. A person with a VISIBLE disablity often has more chance of being understood and assisted - at least medically. There were many times, as I read this, that I recognized parts of "the new me" in Mrs. Abrahamson's writings - most especially the memories and loss of memories. I've had to relearn events (I have some missing years), I've learned about deaths in my family - and grieved well after the fact because the death was new to me - my body may have attended funerals but my mind, my brain did not.

I can see, from my own life, as well as what is happening to my friend and his family, the terrible strain on family members, family dynamics, the finances (I haven't found insurance companies to be all that helpful in covering the specialized neuro-psychological help and cognitive training that is desperately needed. It's a very hard thing for a relationship to survive, as evidenced by the breakup and breakdown of the Abrahmson family. I know of several families that have broken up over this type of injury (my experience mostly is with brain tumor injury but, in a lot of ways, the results and the attitudes are the same). My heart goes out to ALL of them -the injured as well as their families.

Please forgive my writing - I'm trying to be as clear and organized as I can. You see, I too have short-term memory issues (though mine are fairly mild all things considered) and also problems with executive functions. Staying focused and on task, and paying attention requires tremendous effort these days (and my insurance will not allow me to seek the help I need to overcome/learn to live with these issues). I have learned that the best way for me to communicate is in writing because I can come back to it, edit, re-edit and I have much difficulty with "finding" words.

Bless all of us - the brain injured, the families and please let's pray for more understanding and help. ellen

Two years ago in 2001, my husband, Patrick and I met Patt & Gary Abrahamson and their son, Gary Jr. outside of our condominium in Ft. Myers, Fl. After introducing ourselves, we recognized that Gary Jr. was severely handicapped and needed the full assistance from both of his parents. At the time we didn't ask any questions but learned from other people in our building that he was brain-injured and needed 24-hour care. After we became more acquainted with them we realized what total care really meant. They are the most dedicated and unselfish parents we have ever known and that takes in a lot of territory. It was only after we had the opportunity to read this book (which we couldn't put down) did we realize the magnitude of sacrifice that this family has been through. They are truly an inspiration to all of us. Their whole life revolves around Gary Jr. each and every day from the time they awaken until the time they go to sleep. Gary Jr. is their life. They have accepted God's will and turned their family tragedy into a "Parents Labor of Love". This book is a must-read for all parents and children alike and especially for those of us who complain about the trivial things of life. It is our honor and extreme pleasure to call these people our friends.
Rita & Patrick Ryan

Brain Injury - A Family Tragedy is a must read. It gives good insight as to how devastating a brain injury is and its affect on relationships within the family.It shows the struggle that families go through trying to deal with our current health care system. And it shows how strong the parent/child bond really is- even when we are adults. I have been a small part of Gary's health care team for the past four winters in Florida, his parents are the big part and we share his good days, his laughs, his hard times and health concerns. This book is a very accurate portrayal of what brain injury can do - it also depicts an accurate account of the love Gary receives everyday. I have become part of their extended family because Gary Sr. and Patt are such warm and caring people and even though we do have a tough day, on occasion, I truly enjoy my time with Gary - his sense of humor still seeps through his dark world and he makes me laugh everyday.

Although the book gives the unimaginable tough account of the unbearable journey of caring for a person with the type of brain injury Gary Jr. underwent, I found the author to be completely biased especially with respect to her obvious hatred towards her ex-daughter in law. Knowing the difficulty of caring for her son, one would expect complete understanding and forgiveness about the impossibility of a single mother of two to care for the victim. Trying to juggle finances, single motherhood, and 24 hour care is an impossible task and I particularly found very offensive the author's suggestion to her daughter in law to sell her possessions to pay for therapy. It is no body's business to be telling people what they should do or not, specially when they do not have to bear any consequences coming from implementing their suggestions. Afterwards, the parents ended up in the situation in which the wife was previously. Their clear resentment is obviously because they were forced to take the ultimate responsibility for Gary Jr. while it would probably be more comfortable for them to seat and criticize the wife while they did not have any responsibility (i.e. financial) towards their son. Although their caring for their son is very noble, I guess they did not really have a choice other than take over the responsibility. That is what is expected from parents, you can not really divorce your blood family.

The book also is misleading and outdated in the terminology used throughout. Gary Jr. had an Anoxic Brain Injury as a result of his cardiac arrest - and NOT a traumatic brain injury as she makes reference throughout the entire book. The prognosis and the type of injury are very distinct, and as far as factual information, there's more available throughout the Internet than in this book.

I speak based on my own experience of caring for a husband who had exactly the same brain injury - except that my own case is worsened by the fact that his level of care is such that requires 24 hr nursing care. We have a baby and not only dealing with the whole situation is very difficult, but listening to people who have the best intentions but do NOT really bear any responsibility nor are impacted by their good advise is most unwelcome. It is nobody's place to pass judgment - like this book does in each single page.

I can not think of any reason whatsoever to read this book. Do not waste your time and money.

I found this DVD very helpful. I was able to create a 6 hour CE class for massage therapy.

As a massage therapist I often work with muscle injuries. This book is a must have for both therapeutic technique and for client education. I highly reccommend it.

As a runner and horseback rider, I have always subscribed to the theory that stretching is critical for performance. However, finding an effective stretching system has been a long and arduous search. Some books are difficult for the lay person to understand. Some books do not have a fundamental theory underpinning their exercises. And some books promote stretches that are actually harmful. I have found Facilitated Stretching to be the best of the bunch. The illustrations are clear, well-organized and large enough to follow. The text is written clearly and concisely: I can figure out what to do the first time I read it. The cd is excellent: slow, well-narrated and easy to follow. Best of all, the results are immediate. My partially frozen shoulders are starting to move in response to a combination of massage therapy and facilitated stretching (as advocated in the book). My hamstrings have finally let go so now I know what it feels like to walk as normal people do! In short, I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It has met all my stringent requirements. This new edition is even better than the second edition which I studied before buying this book.

This 3rd edition is a wonderful upgrade from the 2nd. The DVD does an exceptional job of visualizing spiral diagonal patterns and demonstrating the facilitated stretching technique. The book is upgraded as well as the information on specific body locations is easlier to find and readily accessable for use in my bodywork. I use both frequently.

As a Personal Trainer, I was looking for a book that was practical with stretches that I could teach my clients that were beyond the normal static stretches. After some weeks with a flexibility program designed with stretches from this book, there is a noticible difference in positive range of motion. It is well written and easy to follow. For my purposes, I found it to be an excellent book.

I've endured more-or-less constant pain in my back and shoulders for years due to chronic cervical disk issues. Physical therapy and related exercises have had little impact. Surgery and injections are risky in the cervical spine, so I live with it.

Enter Dr. Bookspan's guidance. Two of the simple exercises in the neck pain portion of this book provided an immediate degree of relief! The benefits were not temporary - I've enjoyed improvement every week for the past six weeks, along with the ability to reduce use of pain killers. It takes me about ten minutes a day to perform the exercies, and I'm already having occasional pain-free days. I expect a pain-free week soon, which would be the first in a long time.

Her innovative and novel approach works for me, and I'm grateful. Many thanks to Dr. Jolie Bookspan for publishing these remedies!

I was impressed with some parts of this and another book by Bookspan available on the internet. I thought that the rest of the book must be at least as good, well... I was deeply disappointed. There is some good advice, but that's about all. Whatever was freely available was the best part...

The book is very informative and the exercises make sense based on the sciatica I have. However, I am still in pain and may have to consider other options.

I am 53 year old very busy grandma. Few years ago I developed plantar fascia, couldn't treat it except shielding it and as a result developed knee pain. Then I found Dr. Bookspan's book on Internet and in two months got read of these problems as well as of my lordosis. I threw away my shoe inserts, can walk like everyone else, and don't fall apart after cooking a family dinner. I don't have much time for exercises, but simple stretches and awareness during everyday activities provides me enough strength and flexibility to be practically pain-free.

I've already recommended this book to a few people. I find it useful, but you have to stick with it and do the exercises and follow her suggestions! It does not take a lot of time, though. Some of the explanations and illustrations are a little hard to follow, but I'm already thinking about ordering one of her other books.

When I read the original, I knew I was reading a classic. I thought, wow, great work, brilliant and interesting writing, I now know what I need to win my own lawsuit, but what more could be said on the topic? I was wrong. Dead wrong.
Evan Aidman updates this classic work with relevant and pertinent information for todays fast moving world. If you want to win your personal injury claim, or, if you are just in the mood for a great absorbent read, buy this book.

this book helped me plan my own small personal injury case and ended up saving me the cost of paying a 1/3 attorneys fee on a 15K recovery- one that a lawyer would not have been able to exceed under the policy limits applicable to my case.

.
.
I bought 2 books on Amazon this one and Car Accident Secrets Vol 1.5 - Both books helped me solve my accident/personal injury.

I recommend both books as they are well written, easy to follow and helped me save alot of money from my claim. Both books are recommended if you are trying to settle a claim by yourself without using an attorney. The books helped me to save over 8000 dollars on my car accident/personal injury claim.

I had a small case and didn't want to turn a 1/3 of it over to a lawyer so I got this book. It explained step by step what to expect and do and I was able therefore to maximize value and minimize effort on my own claim.

This book is definitely not a book for the do it yourself legal person. It is a book length sales pitch about why you need a lawyer and what to do with one once you have one. It's a well written book with lots of information but it is not what it is billed to be.

I live near where Doctor Montegomery practices medicine. My therapist suggested this book when I sought a second and third opinion about getting surgery for Carpal Tunnel pain. This book help me use a method for pain relief, discovered cause was not necessarily my wrist nor hand, and avoided surgery. If you are good at persistance,buy this book, read it, apply it and get relief. Understanding of why the pain and what to do about it is priceless.

I learned some things from this book. But her exercises surely didn't cause my carpal tunnel to go away as she seems to be claiming. Here is my cautionary note: Do NOT do those massages with your bare hands unless you have big, strong, very flexible hands. My hands are small and, like some others, I have found that using them for anything but the gentlest massage can actually harm them. There are all kinds of helpful massaging devices out there from large to small rolling squishy balls, to a hard roller ball strapped to the hand, and on and on. For trigger points, and I definitely have found that addressing them helps, those devices are also good, but especially it helps to have something like a Theracane which can put more pointed pressure on the "hot" spots.

One thing I wish had been mentioned...One needs to be sure one's thyroid is in top shape. You can't always go by the blood tests either. If the thyroid is out of wack, it affects so much else, commmonly the carpal tunnel. Then the adrenals may also be not functioning so well. Ditto the estrogen, if you are a gal. I found the website called Stop The Thyroid Madness to be a great help toward adressing the underlying condtion of the cts, personally.

I am a 46 year old classical guitarist that has suffered may years with carpal tunnel/Rsi. I tried everything short of surgury but nothing worked. I also type on a computer over 8hrs a day. I bought the book. I went to see Ms Montgomery. In one session my pain was gone! I really mean it, it was the best thing I ever have done for myself. You don't need surgury, you need this book. With daily exercises I am completely pain free, I cannot recommend this enough, it really does work. Give it a try, you wont be sorry.

I've suffered with carpal tunnel syndrome for 18 years.
This book sits on my coffee table like a reference book. I find the procedures difficult to do on my own (symptoms affect both hands - when I massage one hand with the other my massaging hand goes numb!) so my husband is trying to do the massages on my shoulders, arms and hands when he can.
It DOES help my carpal tunnel symptoms, although I'm not totally relieved yet. I believe if we were more diligent with the procedures recommended in the book, I would be healed.
It's definitely worth the $$ to learn about ways to help yourself - it sure beats surgery!

This book means well but is not based on sound medical principles. It freely criticizes other methods ("the failure rate for steroid injection is...about [sic] 75.6% of all patients"; "for surgery...the average failure rate, which is very conservative, is 57%...after 6 years the onset of these symptoms can [sic] reach higher than 90%". No references are given for these "precise" numbers, which are higher than typically quoted values.

In marked contrast, Ms. Montgomery cites no data whatsoever on the success rate of her own trademarked therapy. Instead, the book is well endowed with glowing anecdotal testimonials. Be aware of her methods: she is described as a naturopathic doctor, and holistic health practitioner. She uses hair tissue analysis to evaluate nutrition. She is not a medically trained person.

From the very beginning, this book (like some others) conflates carpal tunnel syndrome with repetitive stress injury. In fact, the cause of carpal tunnel problems is varied, and not always from RSI. For example, the National Institute of Health's Carpal Tunnel Factsheet on its website states: " Most likely the disorder is due to a congenital predisposition - the carpal tunnel is simply smaller in some people than in others. Other contributing factors include trauma or injury to the wrist that cause swelling, such as sprain or fracture; overactivity of the pituitary gland; hypothyroidism; rheumatoid arthritis; mechanical problems in the wrist joint; work stress; repeated use of vibrating hand tools; fluid retention during pregnancy or menopause; or the development of a cyst or tumor in the canal. In some cases no cause can be identified. There is little clinical data to prove whether repetitive and forceful movements of the hand and wrist during work or leisure activities can cause carpal tunnel syndrome."

Check high-quality sources on the Internet, and evaluate the likely benefit of various treatments before proceeding with recommendations from a source of this kind.

I was introduced to Alexander Technique and Centered Riding (separately) several years ago as a beginning adult rider. After several CR clinics, I gained a basic understanding of how Sally Swift uses Alexander. This book stands alone, but as a companion to Centered Riding, particularly Sally's new book, it will help you gain a lot more understanding of how your balance and centering affect your horse's way of going.

I had an opportunity to review the book with a Level IV CR instructor, and she was impressed. Many of the concepts and exercises she does in her clinics are there, and there are a many clever illustrations that clarify the concepts.

It doesn't make any difference what level or discipline you ride. This book and Centered Riding 2 are a terrific set to help you take your riding to new levels.

Here is the book of the millennium and my new bible Centre Riding was the revolutionary book of it's time. Here is it's successor. The expertise and logic of Joni Bentley's training is so astounding it will amaze riders at all levels. Whether you want to brows or get deeply involved in it's technicalities, it is a stunning insight into how to do less and achieve more, horse and rider interact naturally yet classically. Each chapter starts with lively, brain teasing quotes, which are intriguing and so Poignant. This book gives you the tools and awareness to work in harmony with your horse The author uses gripping personal stories to pin point were we are going wrong in training. showing how fundamental problems are glossed over with quick fixs. Although it is fun and easy to read it's message is profound. Joni Bentley has a brilliant knack of drawing you in to her unique world of training. Check out her web site ... Most books are written for the perfect rider and the perfect horse this book is written for you. It deals with real bodies minds and spirits, and honours the horse as the teacher throughout. Riding Success Without Stress will change your life do your horse a favour and buy it now.

You'd think that the author would have the sense not to use her own name when (rave) reviewing her own book.

As an equine osteopath of ten years I was delighted to see in Joni's book many of the answers I had been looking for to stop people injuring their horses. Joni has a unique insight into the mechanics of the horse, yet can make complicated issues appear simple and easily understood. I feel this book will become a classic. Buy it, read, do it.

That Ms. Bentley has apparently written 4 of the previous 7 reviews? If this book is as amazing as she says, shouldn't she be able to convince other people to write reviews for her?

A book like this could be dangerous for inexperienced pitchers. Mr. Carroll is not a physician or trainer.
I strongly recommend you consult a professional if you plan on using his drills.

While Mr. Carroll is not a doctor nor an athletic trainer - hs has a skill set that is unmatched in modern baseball. He has a network of connections in MLB that makes his online column a must-read, he is a good writer and has a tremendous knowledge of the history of sports medicine.

These skills come forth in this book. It's a quick read that is accessible to fans and useful to coaches and players. The chapter on Velocity Loss shows how mindless fans like myself can see when a player is truly fatiguing on the hill.

I found this book to be interesting, informative and one of the top baseball books released this year. I would love to see my favorite team apply a lot of things that Will recommends here and even try the 4-man rotation out.

A great first book, Mr. Carroll, I look forward to number two.

I have to say I found this book griping. It was well written and as odd as this might sound, I found it hard to put down.

Will Carroll while not a medical professional is the top writer in the field of baseball injuries, writing both for "Under the Knife" for Baseball Prospectus website and his own blog The Juice. He makes it his business to know and understand baseball injuries and has a style that explains very complicated medical issues to lay people like myself.

This book makes a fascinating read, and I would highly recommend it for baseball fans (anyone interested in learning more about the game within the game), parents of young pitchers or anyone involved in the teaching of baseball skills.

A well researched book that every parent and coach should read. This book provides simple guidelines and suggestions on how every person involved in the game can help prevent the growing number of arm injuries to pitchers. Despite the research, this book is not condecending in it's tone or hard to read. Since it's publication, Carroll has continued to solidify his reputation as a tremendous source on sports injuries.

This book has the potential to change the face of baseball, if only everyone would take the time to read it. The fact that so many teams still do not understand the basic principles laid forth in this book is downright sad.

OK but don't expect to be able to SAFELY adjust your horse or pony after reading this book only.

Great little book, packed with info and diagrams that all work towards solving problems before they become major issues. VERY easy to read and refer to. Highly recommended diagnosis book!

This is an absolutely must have for all horse owners! As an equine massage therapist, I found it extremely beneficial for understanding how massage and chiropractics can help and influence each other. As a horse owner, it helped me to understand when to call the "other" alternative healer for advice and help. It is written in a witty, easy to understand, comprehensive manner. I strongly recommend this book.

I am an Equine Physical Therapist. I frequently encounter chiropractic issues in my horses and have had to rely on waiting for someone else to come out and assess/ treat the horse. I thought I could do alot of this myself but I needed more detailed instruction. Although I do not consider myself a replacement for the chiropractor, I believe I can treat quite a few of these problems without the long wait. This book is extremely useful but I would not recommend trying the techniques without an extensive anatomy background. I have a Masters in Physical Therapy and have done human therapy for years--- this enables me to apply those techniques to this instructional manual.
This is a great book with the correct background knowledge.

Dr. Kamen gives a lot of useful anatomical overview and techniques for equine chiropractic, but the book is laced with attempts at humor that are distracting for the serious horse owner looking for good information. If you can pick through the antecdotes and get down to the "meat" of the book, it will prove worthwhile, but this is not for the serious student of horse anatomy and chiropractic.