Books—Exercise

by Dr. Abigail Ellsworth
Published September 23, 2010

Yoga is a great way to bend and stretch and wake up the body.  Because the poses are so gentle and flowing it is easy to create a routine that will suite your needs.  Whether you suffer from a debilitating injury, suffer from body pain, back ache, or other, there are enough yoga poses for men, women and youth of all ages.

I love the illustrations and the accompanying diagrams that show exactly what muscles are being used with each of the poses.  This is definitely one of those reference books that will remain in my personal library for many years.

Here is what the publisher has to say about this book.

Yoga teachers and students can use this book as a visual reference to the muscles that are engaged by specific yoga poses. Each pose is shown in a full-color photograph opposite a detailed and annotated anatomical drawing that identifies the active and stabilizing muscles being used. By identifying affected muscles, practitioners can maximize the benefits of each pose and even design a personalized yoga routine that focuses on their specific problem areas.

Anatomy of Yoga explains the basics of yoga, breathing and the spine, concentrating on the body's core musculature. It covers:

• Yoga warm-up
• Standing poses
• Forward bends
• Back bends
• Seated and twisted poses
• Poses that balance arms
• Inversions
• Restorative poses
• Sequences, such as sun salutation

  There are numerous asides, including "best for" information boxes that describe the muscles that work the most during each pose. Tip boxes give hints on safety and form and outline the target muscles for and benefits of each pose. The author also suggests creative ways to modify the intensity of an exercise.

  Anatomy of Yoga is an expert guide that is extremely useful for anyone interested in enhancing a personal yoga fitness routine. It will also interest yoga instructors who want a visual aid that clearly illustrates the benefits of each exercise.

To view publisher’s book overview and other book reviews or to order – go to: www.amazon.ca or www.amazon.com

by Hollis Lance Liebman
Published, October 20, 2020

This was an incredible find for me.  It will definitely be one of those reference books that stays permanently in my library.  One that I will surely reference over and over again. As someone who has suffered a debilitating spinal cord injury, getting back into exercising and a program of regular physical fitness can be daunting.  This clearly outlines the exercise along with very descriptive illustrations of the muscles that are being used. I have spent most of my adult life going to the gym and working out, so many of these exercises are familiar to me, but this book helps me to get a better look and appreciation for each of the exercises and how to apply them to my own personal routine.

Here is what the publisher has to say about this book.

The exercises in Anatomy of Exercise for 50+ will support good health at any age, but for those over fifty they can help in the prevention of specific age-related problems like joint mobility, balance and fatigue, as well as medical conditions like heart disease, colon cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis, arthritis and Alzheimer's disease.

This book follows the successful format of the "Anatomy of" books, which have sold more than 500,000 copies. The series' revolutionary approach is the combination of photographs and lifelike anatomical drawings that reveal in colorful detail exactly which muscles are engaged and how, and which muscles benefit from each exercise.

For those who want to take control of their health, at whatever age, and for fitness trainers, physiotherapists, and activity managers in community care facilities, retirement homes and nursing homes Anatomy of Exercise for 50+ is an instructive and practical resource.

To view publisher’s book overview and other book reviews or to order – go to: www.amazon.ca or www.amazon.com

Back Exercise: Stabilize, Mobilize, and Reduce Pain

By Brian Richey

⭐⭐⭐⭐This book was introduced to me by a PSA while I was at Providence Spinal Cord Rehabilitation.  He was a very physically active person and had experienced a number of injuries over the years that had caused stress to his back.  He found this book in the Providence lending library and shared it with me since I was determined to overcome my own injuries to my back and legs.

I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a great book with the most excellent photographs and how to’s for each of the exercises.  The author gives in-depth descriptions of various types of injuries and the best exercises for those injuries.

The following is the book publishers summary of this book:

Most people will experience back pain at some point in their lives, but only a few have the resolve to seek answers and find relief. Back Exercise: Stabilize, Mobilize, and Reduce Pain explores the anatomy and movement of the spine and offers exercises that will help you move—and feel—better.

Back Exercise goes beyond exercise and rehabilitation to help you understand the why behind spinal conditions and back pain. Throughout the book, unique clay models of the spine reveal each layer of the spinal anatomy, from the spinal vertebrae and discs to the muscle and tissue. These engaging full-color photos make it easy to visualize the structure and biomechanics of the spine and uncover the sources of your pain.

You’ll then be guided through an evaluation of your current back health with a self-assessment. Using only the floor, a wall, and a camera, you can check your pain response to several simple exercises and identify postural deviations and muscular imbalances in your body.

Once you’ve assessed your back mobility, the book features 60 exercises—complete with instructions and safety tips—that help stabilize, strengthen, and rehabilitate the spine. Create foundational stability for your spine, extend your range of motion, and relieve pain with exercises that build strength, mobility, and flexibility in your back.

Finally, Back Exercise explores five common spinal conditions: nonspecific low back pain, disc bulge and herniation, spondylolisthesis, stenosis, and spinal surgeries such as spinal fusion. Six months’ worth of tailored exercise plans are presented for each condition, offering a safe progression of exercises to improve mobility, increase stability, and reduce pain.

No one wants to live with back pain or discomfort. With Back Exercise you will understand the sources of your pain and take control of your back health for the long term.

To view publisher’s book overview and other book reviews or to order – go to: www.amazon.ca or www.amazon.com

Stretch in your home easily even alone for physical rehabilitation after stroke hemiparesis brain or spinal cord injury 

By Leon Edwards

Leon Edwards offers a compilation of stretching exercises for spasticity, many in which can be done easily and without the use of a partner at home. This simple guide of techniques to decrease spasticity was prepared working with an occupational therapist, using these techniques for spasticity, drastic improvement in relief would increase movement was seen and I needed to make these easily available for anyone to easily stretch and feel the benefits in your own home.

Many people with spasticity don’t have partners to work with or cannot get to a therapist for sessions often enough, for whatever reason. The stretches and spasticity exercises in this guide can be done daily and easily in the home. This guide is ideal for anyone needing to manage their spasticity, or are receiving home care after a stroke or a traumatic brain injury.  This book can also be used as a guide for stretches to relieve effects of hemiparesis, hemiplegia, SCI or spinal cord injury effects , even cerebral palsy, MS effects.

To view publisher’s book overview and other book reviews or to order – go to: www.amazon.ca or www.amazon.com

A Beginner-Friendly Guide to Exercises That Will Promote and Help Maintain the Health of Your Spinal Cord Irrespective Of Your Age Kindle Edition

by Glayds Jones

Glayds Jones offers a great user friendly Guide to Exercises That Will Promote and Help Maintain the Health of Your Spinal Cord Irrespective Of Your Age!

We all know it; we have to protect our spinal cord with everything we’ve got because injury of whatever nature to the spine could have lifelong problems or even result to premature death (it has been said to increase the risk of dying prematurely by 2-5 times!).

Whether you’ve sustained an injury to the spine or simply want to make sure the spine is in top shape, exercises that target the spine can help a lot.

This book aims to provide you with scientifically-proven information on the unique physiologic effects of spinal cord injuries (SCI) along with the potential role of aerobic exercises in addressing and mitigating these effects. Actually, exercise training has been proven to be an effective therapy for SCI as it improves your spinal cord function by compensating, enhancing and replacing the remaining function of your spinal cord nerves and muscles.

This book also provides a guide to the best nutrients that your spinal cord needs and well researched exercise tips to follow if you have a spinal cord injury.  This book will help you strengthen your spinal cord without trying too hard.

To view publisher’s book overview and other book reviews or to order – go to: www.amazon.ca or www.amazon.com