Clinical Treatment of Back and Neck Pain

The title of this book is misleading. Actually, Dr. Kraus considers the treatment of back and neck pain resulting from muscle weakness, poor posture, or muscle imbalance and not that associated with any identifiable lesion such as a herniated intervertebral disk, osteoarthritis of the spine, the sequela of trauma, mechanical abnormalities such as spondylolisthesis, abnormalities of the spinal cord or peripheral nerves, or diseases of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary, or cardiovascular systems. The method of examination given by Dr. Kraus stresses structural measurements such as chest expansion, scapulaspine distance, angle of pelvic tilt, elasticity of muscles, and the determination of muscle strength and holding power. The Kraus-Weber test for minimal muscular fitness is outlined in detail. A thorough description of exercises for the spine is given. The technique of injecting "triggerpoints" within ligaments and muscles is described in detail. Techniques of "supportive physical therapy" such as use of ethyl chloride spray