The Egoscue Method of Health Through Motion: A Revolutionary Program That Lets You Rediscover the Body's Power to Protect and Rejuvenate Itself

by Pete Egoscue

No one is immune. For people from champion athletes to desk-bound white-collar professionals, many simple acts of life--a relaxing evening stroll through the neighborhood, an exhilarating run along a sandy beach, just bending down to tie a loose shoelace-are often acts of torture. The walking wounded suffer from torn rotator cuffs, tennis elbow, jogger's knees, bad backs, stiff necks, sore feet, and swollen ankles. It could, without exaggeration, be called a modem epidemic.

In this brilliant book, renowned anatomical functionalist Pete Egoscue identifies the epidemic's causes and effects. By recognizing that the human body is dependent on adequate motion to maintain its full range of physical functions, he has revolutionized both the treatment of musculoskeletal pain and the techniques for training athletes to achieve peak performance levels.

Brimming with common sense and practical advice, the heart of this important book consists of twenty-two easy-to-do, highly effective exercises that stretch, strengthen, and relax the body, allowing a return to proper alignment.

Genres: Health, Nonfiction, Fitness, Self Help, Bodies, Reference

224 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1992

Reviews

[Helie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most of this book is pseudoscientific and unnecessary. I doubt all of it stands up to medical science, and most of it is worth skipping.

However, the important part of the book is the exercises that help reduce chronic pain by realigning joints and muscles. It sounds hokey, but the essence is fairly straightforward. I like his functional explanations and descriptions of how different movements and muscles can cause the body to shift and cause pain. He really has a deep understanding of human motion. Not all of the exercises are 100% effective for my goals, but I was surprised at how many were effective.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book written in a very accessible manner. It was also interesting to see Egoscue take primitive humans as the model for how he thinks we should continue to live in the world; he seems to have anticipated the primal/paleo craze by around a decade at least. To me, his main message is that the human body was designed to be in motion, and if we do not give it the motion (and also kind of motion) it is designed for, our bodies may then become dysfunctional, meaning that our proper alignment (shoulders, knees, ankles in a straight line, etc.) becomes compromised. The result of this, eventually, is pain and a possible further restriction of motion. This book instructs the reader in a fairly simple self-diagnosis, then also gives him/her a series of exercises designed to counteract and eventually correct his/her condition.

Since I've just started the exercises, I have no idea whether or not my "upper torso rotation" will be more-or-less "fixed" by the end of three weeks (if I can stick with it that long), and since I didn't have any pain to begin with and still have none, I can't say anything as to the efficacy of the Egoscue Method. However, I like his attitude towards modern-day ailments such as carpal tunnel syndrome: if you weren't born with a birth defect or haven't had a traumatic injury that left your skeleton damaged somehow, there's no reason why you shouldn't be able to, say, use a computer. Our ancestors were doing much more than that, continuously, without problems. He contends that by using the keyboard in the proper way, and by correcting existing postural problems, the carpal tunnel will go away. It seems to be that in his view, surgery is almost always unnecessary.

Like I wrote before: I like the theory, but I have no idea how it plays out in practice. Hopefully I'll find out in the next few weeks.

[Breena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think that this is a must read for anyone who is desirous to be aware of the health of their body. The concept is simply that your bone structure is made so perfectly that when aligned as it is meant to be, 100s of problems simple don't exist. As a music teacher I am constantly on the look out for proper positioning at the keyboard. I have noticed that it is getting harder to get a child to sit up straight. They complain of back pain having rarely to never used those muscles before! I agree that the "plague" of modern technology needs to be consciously counteracted or the rise of joint replacements etc continue until we have a situation like in the movie WALL-E.

[Edf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome!

Was looking at surgery for my ankle, doctor's all said it was necessary (went to several). Then found this book. Now I am pain free and did not need surgery! Anyone in pain should read this book it WILL change your life.

[Cyanemi · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are very simple exercises that are supposed to retrain your muscles and readjust your posture etc. I have done them for four days. I am extremely compromised with my back. I was shocked at how painful they were. On the fourth day much easier and less pain. I will do updates if I improve.

[Mark Ness · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rebalance your body

No wonder we have pain. Looking in the mirror with new understanding , it was obvious why I hurt. This book explains it all very clearly.

[Kenna Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

For someone who has had chronic back pain on and off for many years with migraines, this book though deceivingly simple cuts through all the overly complex solutions to a foundational solution which I know has been key at different times in alleviate pain and poor body mechanics I have developed over the years.
I bought this book because the youtube videos I had used to help with this problem one day were gone. I'm glad I was finally forced to get the book. There's so much in there that were not in the videos. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who has had chronic pain issues and wants to take responsibility for getting themselves right and down a path that is free of pain.

[Tina Fairlamb-Leonard · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Don't get the mistaken impression that the Egoscue Method is going to fix you... No way. You're going to do the fixing"

Now ain't that a different mind-set for taking responsibility for chronic pain!


Just finished reading the book... looks like I may be Condition 1 (need to redo the diagnosis w/ my Physical Therapist, Coach and Yoga instructor), so it'll be a few weeks/months before I see/feel any benefits... we'll see.

I'm hopeful!

[Peggy McCoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

In-clinic experience with an Egoscue therapist has shown me that Pete Egoscue knows what he is talking about! His basic outlook makes perfect sense!
This book is an early one, and I think Pain Free (another book, I think a later one) was more helpful.

[Khuram Malik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forget chiropractors, forget painkillers, forget surgery, the osteopath, the masseuse and the acupuncturist. Trust me, I've tried them all for back pain, and the only thing that has worked has been the Egoscue method. Forget Pilates and Yoga even.

This book will show you how to self-diagnose your postural problems and weaknesses and give you the exercises to correct the root cause of your musco-skeletal issues, even if you have a bulging or prolapsed disc. You just need to have faith in the method and give it some time. It's not an overnight fix.

If you want something more acutely tailored to you and some reassurance then hire an Egoscue practitioner, but reading this book will still help you because it will do away with many doubts while also helping you understand the science behind what your practitioner is telling you thus giving you the motivation you need.

[Christopher Herbert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basic principle is that humans evolved over thousands of years, during which they were in constant motion as hunters and foragers, and now we sit at desks all day and wonder why we're in pain. Also includes self diagnosis charts and guides, and exercises to help strengthen and align the body in ways that will reduce pain. Also says to hydrate way more.

Good read, but hard to see sticking with this without a PT to help guide along.

[Marty Watland · Rating 4 out of 5]

New way of thinking

I don't know why this method hasn't taken the world by storm. My only guess is that the methods are time-consuming, and we are still addicted to easy fixes. If there was a PT clinic that used these methods near me, I would go today, but to do it on my own would take more self-discipline than I have.

[Kenidee Hatler · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think this provides some legitimate framework for dealing with physical ailments, but I don’t think it’s fair to say that everyone’s injuries are because their bodies aren’t functioning well. Sometimes people get hurt because sports are aggressive.

[Tracy Westwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Information Everyone Needs To Know!

This book is a wealth of information despite the numerous typos. Everyone needs this information and should incorporate the proper movement into their daily routines!

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of exercises, but not many pictures for each (sometimes it's hard to tell what to do based on the text even though the text is good). It's also hard to know when to do an exercise

[Aja Marsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

a must read!

[Margaret Lemmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very nice!

I found the information enlightening. I will plan to practice the exercises. The illustrations were very helpful. I particularly loved the ending anecdote.

[Ian Orekondy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really helps my back - without a chiropractor.

[Sarah Pallett · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much good info in here, so thankful to the friend that recommended it to me.

[Lauren Thyme · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've used this book a lot to maintain my health.

[Laura Hanke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got it for the exercises! I think they help.

[Skylar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend to everyone! if you have an issue with your body or not this will help

[Tom Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well worth reading

Looking forward to actually getting into it. More to add later.
Back to the trying of exercises. That's all. Done.

[Irene S Hodge · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book for those who want to manage their own health

[Natasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read. I added some of the exercise into my routine and have been doing them.

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

enjoyed the book think it was recommended or was in wim Hoffs book good from trying to recover from injury/pain strips it back to basic movements getting your body aligned properly.

[Jesus Rodriguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has the potential to be a life-saving book. This gets four stars because Pete Egoscue is not the most engaging writer in my opinion. However, this book is not about great writing. The information here is critical for anyone. Proper body function, as I learned through this book, plays a huge role in much of the pain and agony we go through with our bodies.

For Egoscue, it's as simple as reintroducing the body to do what its made to do... Move.

This book was incredibly helpful for me. I'm in what the book describes as Condition I, everted feet and tilted hip forward. I have finally figured out why I'm having a subtle pain in my lower back.

Apparently "Pain Free" is the better book from the ones that he's written so you might be better off starting with that one. This one was a real eye-opener for me.

[Seth · Rating 1 out of 5]

Do yourself a favor and don’t read this book. The author is completely obnoxious and comes across as a cranky old man complaining about modern life and I felt, with little hyperbole, that he thinks we were better off living as cave men. He makes a lot of big and sometimes false statements with practically no sources cited beyond himself. I understand the point of the book is to improve the functioning of the body and despite the obnoxiousness I am going to do the exercises to try to fix the eversion in my feet, but do yourself a favor and skip the book (read the diagnosis and the exercises). I may or may not come back to edit my review and rating after a few months based on the success of the method, but for now you are left with a rating that it was a horrible book.

[Shelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much of what is said (besides the exercises) is what I've thought about for awhile. I liked seeing these ideas written beyond my own head. The exercises look helpful. I've started them and they look useful for almost anyone.

[P · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think he makes some good points and has some good advice, but it is a fairly confusing book and it's interactive in the sense that you need to measure, look at yourself in the mirror, etc. and all kinds of other annoying stuff.