Why Things Hurt: Life Lessons from an Injury-prone Physical Therapist

by Brent Stevenson, Diane Lee (Contributor)

Why Things Hurt is a collection of true stories and meaningful explanations about how our bodies work and the journeys we travel to maintain them. It provides accessible answers and structured principles on topics such as posture, pain, pregnancy, exercise, footwear and sports. Physiotherapist, Brent Stevenson discusses how to navigate your medical systems and what you should and should not expect from your physicians. He outlines what everyone should know about their own body, both physically and emotionally, by combining conversational lessons with cathartic true stories of injury, pain, resilience and perseverance. This book will empower you to make proactive choices for your body and help guide your journey in the right direction.

226 pages, Paperback

Published November 20, 2016

About the author

Brent Stevenson is a physiotherapist in Vancouver, Canada, the co-owner of two multidisciplinary health clinics, the author of two books, the father of three teenage children, and a happily married husband. He has a Bachelor of Human Kinetics from the University of British Columbia, a Masters of Physiotherapy from McMaster University, and a long list of post-graduate training including IMS Dry Needling and visceral manipulation.

His first book titled Why Things Hurt: Life Lessons From An Injury-prone Physical Therapist is a collection of meaningful stories and explanations about how our bodies actually work. His current book titled Why We Hurt: Understanding How To Be Comfortable In Your Own Body, takes a deeper look at the physical manifestations of stress and anxiety in people’s bodies, and how your interpretation of your story effects the care you receive when you reach out for help.

Reviews

[Nikki Rich]

I started reading this book a few months ago and it inspired me to find my own physical therapist. The best thing that’s booked it was educate me on different therapies a physical therapist might do and it also gave me an idea of where I was in poor alignment. I don’t think I could have corrected any of my issues without working with a physical therapist, but without this book I would’ve never have gone to one. I am very grateful to the author for explaining what a physical therapist does. I did not realize I was a candidate for physical therapy nor did I realize how much it would help me until I read this book. Many years I ago I went to a physical therapist after an accident to rehab my neck, but I still had no idea of how helpful a PT would be as a 47 year old adult. It seems like none of my issues would be related to a pregnancy in my early 40s and the C-section, but as I work with my PT I discover I should have found one years ago to help me address these issues.

[Souzan]

I started reading this book every time I was waiting to see my own (excellent) physiotherapist who works out of the author’s clinic (Envision Physiotherapy, Vancouver, BC). Currently, I’m in the hell of ambiguous chronic pain- bad enough to cause me to leave my job. Even while I am on EI and so broke I had to increase my credit limit to keep up w the Physio that I can’t really afford, I bought the book at my clinic because it was so engaging and applicable to me/my life. I wish I’d had this book earlier, but in truth I didn’t have the physical relationship with my body in my twenties that I do now in my thirties.
I would give this book to every teenager- especially the athletes- and everyone else in between.

[Justin]

Not much here in terms of exercises or pictures. Reads like a series of blog posts.