Back pain is one of the most frequently identified chronic and acute afflictions in society. It is safe to say that most people suffer from it at some stage in life. Back pain is common among all kinds of workers, from manual laborers to office executives. The third edition of this popular book provides sufferers and their families with information on all aspects of back pain, from the basic structure and mechanics of the spine and its injury, to the more subtle psychological, psychiatric, and social aspects of this debilitating ailment. The book covers the major developments that have been made in the field over the past few years, and includes modern ideas about pain and its control, as well as new information on why the problem occurs and the values of new and traditional remedies. The book describes the latest imaging techniques used for full diagnosis and assessment, and recent advances such as minimal invasive surgery are included. Back pain prevention, ergonomic and postural advice, other medical and surgical treatments, and non-traditional approaches such as osteopathy, chiropractic and acupuncture are also discussed. Self-help strategies for the prevention and alleviation of attacks round out this comprehensive guide. The book will be of interest to all sufferers of back pain, and to general practitioners, chiropractors, and other professionals dealing with this difficult condition.