
8 Steps to a Pain-Free Back
Natural Posture Solutions for Pain in the Back, Neck, Shoulder, Hip, Knee, and Foot (Second Edition)
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
8 Steps to a Pain-Free Back
Natural Posture Solutions for Pain in the Back, Neck, Shoulder, Hip, Knee, and Foot (Second Edition)
About this book
Esther Gokhale's global bestseller turns back pain treatment on its head.
Many of us are told it's normal to have back pain. That disc degeneration is inevitable after 50. That arthritic changes are par for the course. However, what if back pain isn't inevitable? What if it's simply a result of being disconnected from how we are meant to use our bodies?
Dedicated to the millions of people who suffer unnecessarily from back pain, this updated edition of Esther Gokhale's classic bestseller reveals a surprising truth: our bodies are designed to function pain-free for close to a century—we're just not using them correctly.Â
8 Steps to a Pain-Free Back shows you how we got off track and the steps to fix it. You won't find gimmicks, gadgets, or time-consuming exercises—just tweaks to everyday movement habits. A blend of modern medical insight and ancient body wisdom, the Gokhale Method® isn't a temporary fix—it's a return to the way your body is designed to move.
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This updated second edition includes:
- 600 new and updated images
- New and refined techniques, including a fully revamped walking chapter
- QR codes linking to videos of key techniques
- Guidance on using tech without compromising your spine
Esther Gokhale trained in science at Harvard and Princeton. The New York Times has dubbed Gokhale "The Posture Guru of Silicon Valley". She has taught the Gokhale Method at Google, Facebook, Kaiser Permanente, Sutter Health, UCSF, TEDx(Stanford), and consulted for major sports teams. The Gokhale Method is currently the subject of a Stanford clinical trial for back pain treatment.
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Information
Table of contents
- Contents
- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
- FOREWORD
- PREFACE
- STUDENT EXPERIENCES
- FOUNDATIONS
- BACK PAIN
- WHAT WE BLAME
- THE REAL CAUSE
- THE EFFECT ON OUR BACKS
- MOVING OUT OF MISERY
- HOW IT WORKS
- WHAT DOES UNHEALTHY POSTURE LOOK LIKE?
- WHAT DOES HEALTHY POSTURE LOOK LIKE?Â
- ORIENTATION
- FOLLOW THE CHAPTER SEQUENCE
- ALLOW TIME TO CHANGE
- KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT
- UNDERSTAND HOW THE CHAPTERS ARE ORGANIZED
- RECOGNIZE YOUR PROGRESS
- BARRIERS TO SUCCESS
- Chapter 1 STRETCHSITTING
- BENEFITS
- EQUIPMENT
- INSTRUCTIONS
- INDICATIONS OF IMPROVEMENT
- TROUBLESHOOTING
- FURTHER INFORMATION
- RECAP
- Chapter 2 STRETCHLYING ON YOUR BACK
- BENEFITS
- EQUIPMENT
- INSTRUCTIONS
- INDICATIONS OF IMPROVEMENT
- TROUBLESHOOTING
- FURTHER INFORMATION
- RECAP
- Chapter 3 STACKSITTING
- BENEFITS
- EQUIPMENT
- INSTRUCTIONS
- EQUIPMENT
- INDICATIONS OF IMPROVEMENT
- TROUBLESHOOTING
- FURTHER INFORMATION
- RECAP
- Chapter 4 STRETCHLYING ON YOUR SIDE
- BENEFITS
- EQUIPMENT
- INSTRUCTIONS
- INDICATIONS OF IMPROVEMENT
- TROUBLESHOOTING
- FURTHER INFORMATION
- RECAP
- Chapter 5 USING YOUR INNER CORSET
- LENGTHENING BY CONTRACTING
- BENEFITS
- EQUIPMENT
- INSTRUCTIONS
- INDICATIONS OF IMPROVEMENT
- TROUBLESHOOTING
- FURTHER INFORMATION
- RECAP
- Chapter 6 TALLSTANDING
- BENEFITS
- EQUIPMENT
- INSTRUCTIONS
- INDICATIONS OF IMPROVEMENT
- TROUBLESHOOTING
- FURTHER INFORMATION
- RECAP
- Chapter 7 HIP-HINGING
- ANATOMY OF A BACKACHE...
- ... AND HOW TO AVOID IT
- BENEFITS
- EQUIPMENT
- INSTRUCTIONS
- INDICATIONS OF IMPROVEMENT
- TROUBLESHOOTING
- FURTHER INFORMATION
- RECAP
- Chapter 8 GLIDEWALKING
- BENEFITS
- EQUIPMENT
- INSTRUCTIONS
- PART A: ASSESSING YOUR HABITUAL WALK
- PART B: PRACTICING THE 4-POINT CHECKLIST STANCE
- PART C: BREAKING DOWN A STRIDE
- PART D: ACTIVE FOOTWORK
- PART E: THE PASSIVE PHASE OF WALKING
- PART F: PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER: REFINING YOUR GAIT
- INDICATIONS OF IMPROVEMENT
- TROUBLESHOOTING
- FURTHER INFORMATION
- RECAP
- LEARN MORE ABOUT THE GOKHALE METHOD
- Appendix 1 OPTIONAL EXERCISES
- HOW MUCH AND HOW LONG?
- EQUIPMENT
- STRENGTHENING THE TORSO MUSCLES
- Strengthening the Abdominal Muscles
- Strengthening the Deep Muscles of the Back
- STRENGTHENING KEY MUSCLES USED IN WALKING
- Strengthening the Arch Muscles
- Strengthening the Gluteus Medius Muscles
- Strengthening the Tibialis Anterior
- STRENGTHENING AND STRETCHING THE MUSCLES IN THE SHOULDER AREA
- STRENGTHENING THE NECK MUSCLES
- STRETCHING THE NECK MUSCLES
- STRETCHING THE KEY MUSCLES THAT CONNECT THE TORSO AND LEGS
- STRETCHING THE HAMSTRINGS
- STRETCHING THE EXTERNAL HIP ROTATOR MUSCLES
- LENGTHENING THE PSOAS MUSCLES
- TROUBLESHOOTING
- FURTHER INFORMATION
- Appendix 2 ANATOMY
- GLOSSARY
- BIBLIOGRAPHY
- SUMMARY GUIDE
- Copyright