This illustrated self-help guide to back pain is a compendium of sensible advice including how best to sit or drive, what to expect from physiotherapy, osteopathy, acupuncture, various drugs and injections, and the benefits and risks of surgery. Most useful for those with chronic back pain unresponsive to treatment will be the chapters on good posture and strengthening exercises as these can alleviate back pain much of the time. As Tanner is a private practitioner in orthopaedic and sports medicine, therefore with wide experience, he recognises that traditional medical treatment often cannot help, and talks through the impact of emotional and psychological stress on the back, the value of relaxation and massage, and the cases most suited to alternative remedies like meditation, hypnotherapy and the Alexander Technique.
