This is one of the most comprehensive texts for rehabilitation of the spine I have seen in over 10 years of practice. As a physical therapist, I've learned that spine rehabilitation requires a broad knowledge of techniques, since every spine patient is different. The modern practitioner needs to have an ecelctic approach to rehabilitation since no 2 patients are alike, even with the same diagnosis. Dr. Liebenson has done a great job in providing the scientific and clinical application of a variety of spine rehabilitation principles with a multidisciplinary approach including a virtual "who's who" of physicians, chiropractors, physical therapists, and researchers from around the world. Of particular interest to me is the Czech approach to spinal rehabilitation based on contributions from legendary physicians Vladimir Janda and Karel Lewit. Top researchers including Bogduk, McGill, and Hodges also present the latest evidence-based interventions. I was quite pleased to see the amount of photographs and diagrams illustrating specific techniques and exercises, which is even further enhanced with videos on the enclosed DVD. Long gone (I hope) are the days of "hot packs, ultrasound and massage" as the treatment of choice for low back pain. We know that exercise is the most important component in back rehabilitation, but we must first be able to accurately assess the patient and prepare the tissues for exercise programs specific to the patient needs and goals. Dr. Liebenson and his contributors have given us the tools do do just that... they have captured a virtual paradigm shift in the way we approach the assessment and rehabilitation of the spine. I highly recommend this textbook for any healthcare professional treating spine patients.

--- Note: This review is for the 2nd edition only. ---

Craig Liebenson has accomplished a monumental task with this 972 page tome that covers back rehab from A to Z. In the first 90 pages he exhaustively covers the back pain rehab literature with a special focus on Low Back Pain (LBN.) With 100's of references per chapter, (279 for Chapter One alone!) he convincingly shows the failure of conventional approaches and the new hope for LBN sufferers offered by the latest soft tissue techniques combined with patient reeducation and exercise prescription.

Then he turns the book over to a host of guest experts including Stuart McGill and the Czech pioneers Vladimir Janda and Karel Lewit. They fully cover assessment and treatment for acute and chronic recovery management of back pain with multiple soft tissue modalities fully explained.

This is $100 bucks extremely well spent. If you're a back pain professional who wants to see patients get out of pain, you can't afford not to buy this book.

Chronic back pain CAN be resolved. But only if you're willing to learn something new. This is a GREAT place to start!