Charles Barkley once told me “There are two types of people in the world—folks whose backs don’t hurt, and folks whose backs do.” This book takes a remarkable look at the second category: the causes, consequences and cures for back pain. It is presented in such an accessible way that anyone can understand and appreciate the knowledge, wisdom and possibilities within these pages. What’s most fascinating to me is Brian’s exploration of the power of emotions in the mind-body connection—that whether you’re listening or not, your body is always trying to tell you something.

For more than 30 years I’ve explored the mysterious world of mind-body. What Dr. Hainline has done with this book is brilliant. It represents an extraordinary contribution to the often misrepresented and misunderstood world of mind-body interactions. What I love most about Brian’s book is its eloquent simplicity and remarkable clarity of thought combined with unfailing scientific fervor. This is a must read.

Patients increasingly turn to resources such as the Internet and texts written for the “lay person” to understand various treatment approaches for back pain. In Back Pain Understood: A Cutting-Edge Approach to Healing Your Back, Dr. Hainline has given us a comprehensive and excellent resource in an easy to understand format. Dr. Hainline not only describes the painful anatomic abnormalities of back pain, but also emphasizes the often-overlooked “mind-body” connection. He eloquently distinguishes the need for non-operative and operative care of back pain. This book is an invaluable guide to help patients make informed decisions regarding their treatment options, and is a must read for patients with back and spinal problems.

Back pain is a bane for most physicians to manage properly, and any mis-management can completely undermine the aspirations and functioning of the patient—ranging from the elite athlete to the sedentary worker. Dr. Hainline has written a comprehensive, pragmatic and compassionate book that expertly navigates patients, physicians and clinicians alike. He blends science, clinical excellence and wisdom to create a refreshing, wholistic medical approach to diagnosing and treating low back pain. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in this subject.

I have worked with Dr. Hainline in the world of professional tennis for over 10 years. He is a highly educated and thoughtful individual who is willing to think outside the box. Many healthcare professionals have a narrow-minded way of diagnosing and managing back pain and back injuries. Dr.Hainline gives us an informative and refreshingly new way to address back pain, and he reminds us to be open-minded to the many different treatment approaches of this most difficult problem.