I received this book for review when I was in the midst of a terrible fibro flare. At the time this book was far from my mindset. Perhaps I'm being blinded by my own pain and the pharmaceutical medicine practice, but the book's recommendations were not for me - at that time. I won't judge a ARC by it's cover - I will reread. ( )

There's a surprising amount of information in this small book. It gives a quick overview of information about arthritis, and a lot of different solutions to try. I'd recommend it to anyone who has arthritis and wants to try solutions other than drugs.

In The Arthritis Handbook Dr. Cooper presents a take charge approach for individuals suffering with osteoarthritis. His plan focuses on managing the symptoms of osteoarthritis using nutrition, exercise, and dietary supplements, while recommending surgery and medication only when other approaches have failed. I am most impressed that Dr. Cooper recommends complimentary approaches to managing arthritis such as the practice of Tai Chi, which is also endorsed by the Arthritis Foundation.

The book is not a typical arthritis help book – it is peppered with personal and cultural references that are as informative as they are amusing. The book also includes a glossary to help readers understand medical terminology and a list of websites for readers to learn more about osteoarthritis. Overall, the best aspect of the book is that it encourages patients to communicate with healthcare professionals, and notes key times when patients should seek professional advice.

Despite the fact that the information in the book is sound, the book is somewhat disorganized and at times seems to be addressing two separate audiences. Also, I would have liked to have seen a detailed reference list of the studies described in the book. Ultimately these stylistic shortfalls do not detract from the promising message of the book – osteoarthritis can be managed by lifestyle changes that are described in the book. ( )

This book arrived just before I injured my leg and discovery that I had the early signs of arthritis. That is not surprising since there is a family history of mild arthritis and the combination of weight, diet, and (insufficient) exercise as contiributing factors.

The book is divided into four sections, plus a brief glossary of medical terms and an excellent index. The book is presented in a manner to make it a quick read but still conveys a great deal of information that is not overly technical for the average person to understand.

Part I contains the most medical terminology while describing the mechanical aspects of the body joints. The brief chapter on the diagnosis discusses various presenting symptoms and the importance of their review to complement the physical exam and x-ray review by a physician.

Part 2 provides not only a refresher on good nutrition but a realistic approach for those who need to make substantial changes in their daily eating habits. It does not contain a prescriptive diet, but rather suggestions of how one can gradually change eating habits to fit within daily life as one begins to evolve into a healthier approach to eating.

Part 3 is the largest section comprised of individual chapters on stretching, strengthening, and aerobic exercises. Sadly, most gyms focus on strenthening exercises and do not demonstrate or explain the importance of stretching exercises. My recent leg injury and subsequent physical therapy experience taught me more about stretching exercises than I had ever heard before. It is good to see this section in the book with the explanation of which body part each stretching exercise is focused. The explanation and photos also helped to reinforced what I learned in physical therapy.

Part 3 discusses both natural (dietary) and over-the-counter supplements. Part 4 closes the book with a discussion of the medical treatment options. It also includes a good list of questions to ask when exploring any surgical options.

I would recommend this book to anyone who has ever experienced any muscle/joint pain and especially anyone over age 30. It helps to reinforce what you learned (or should have learned) at home or at school while growing up about general health and exercise. But more importantly it emphasizes the importance of proper stretching and strengthening exercises. I know I will use some of what I learned in any future exercise class or evaluating a gym. ( )

The Arthritis Handbook is a book that I wish had been available 40 years ago and that I would have been smart enough to follow. Other than folk medicine books, I don't recall much in the way of medical advice for the general public back then. I assumed I would have to follow that path of my elders, that arthritis was a part of aging, and there would be a cane in my future.

Dr. Grant Cooper has written a very accessible book about osteoarthritis, one that has relevance for all age groups. For the young, it provides a plan to minimize one of the probable effects of aging. For seniors, it is a guide to ameliorating the effects of arthritis. One of Cooper’s goals is to help the reader make lifestyle changes and the book is written and organized to give the reader the information to make those changes.

In Part I, Dr. Cooper describes how joints work and how arthritis begins. Some readers might be tempted to skip this part and go directly to the chapters that give action plans for the reader to follow. That would be a mistake. That would be a mistake. Knowing how the joints work and how arthritis sets in provides a foundation for the subsequent chapters particularly those describing exercise.

Nutrition is covered in Part II. The advice is not faddish and clearly presented. It might be the most difficult aspect of ones life to modify but the author makes a compelling case and relates the effects of diet to the information on joints and arthritis provided in Part I. Dr. Cooper describes why and how he modified his own eating habits which contributes to the effectiveness of the message that proper nutrition plays a major part in preventing the onset of arthritis and easing the effects of an existing condition.

I had already begun an exercise program as described in Part III before reading this book. Dr. Cooper recommends working with a trainer and I endorse that recommendation. I was going to the gym on my own before I engaged a trainer and was astonished at the ineffectiveness of my approach. It is difficult to effectively exercise based on text and photographs in a book. A trainer will make sure that you are performing the exercises and stretches properly to avoid injury and also make sure that you are exercising and stretching the right areas of the body.

Part IV covers supplements. As with nutrition, Dr. Cooper takes a practical, conservative, and balanced, approach that doesn’t stray into exotic, supplement remedies popular in infomercials. He is careful to indicate where the benefits of certain supplements have not been conclusively proven but where there is sufficient reason to believe that they will have some effect. I found his discussions on fish oil and glucosamine/chondroitin sulfate particularly interesting as I was taking those supplements before reading the book. For example, while my fish oil supplement is advertised as containing 1,200 mg of fish oil, it is well short of the recommended amount of EPA/DHA.

The subtitle of the book is The Essential Guide to a Pain-Free, Drug Free Life but he necessarily concludes with a section on medication and surgery. He emphasizes that these options need to be done in conjunction with diet, exercise, and nutritional supplements. An analgesic will mask the pain but do nothing to correct the underlying disease causing the pain.

Dr. Cooper’s book is a excellent, readable resource for to establish both a preventative as well as a management program for dealing with arthritis. ( )

Although I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis a few years ago, I never paid much attention to it. All it meant to me was that my feet and ankles felt stiff in the morning and that sometimes the joints in my hands ached. Then I got hit with an attack of sciatica that changed my way of thinking. I was in terrible pain, and when I went to the orthopedist, I told him, "I know that this can't be cured. All I want is to be able to manage it and to do what I can to slow the progression."

I got some good advice and treatment from my doc, and this little handbook came at just the right time. The explanations of joint anatomy and the effects of OA are uncomplicated but thorough, and I was happy to add the easy-to-follow exercises to those recommended by my physical therapist. The benefits of the dietary guidelines, too, are clearly explained and easily followed. While I hope to avoid surgery, the handbook also provides useful information in case I need it down the road.

All in all, The Arthritis Handbook is just what I needed to dispel the feeling of hopelessness I had experienced and to help me gain a sense of control over this disease. There are more detailed, more technical books available on this subject, but my advice is to save them for later and put this one to work for you now. I plan to take it with me to my next doctor's appointment. ( )

The first thing I learned from Cooper's book is that pain doesn't have to be my future. There are significant things I can be doing right now to protect and rejuvenate my joints. What good news!

One of my core values is to stay healthy so I can continue to explore my full potential as a parent, a teacher, a librarian, a writer and a human being. I want to stay active and pain-free and involved in new projects, learning new things and trying new adventures into the next three or four decades. To do that I need to be at my optimum health. That is why this book is having such an impact on me.

It is always hard to get into the habit of a new exercise routine. I have started and given up on them many times over the years. This time I am wondering how in the world I will find an extra half hour in the day to walk or do tai chi. I am determined to do it though, and I am starting slowly with just ten minutes extra stretching in the morning and evening. Cooper gives us some good warm-up stretches, strength training exercises and aerobic exercises. I believe that if you just learn to do all the ones in this little book you will be way ahead of the game, no extra equipment or gym memberships needed.

More at: http://awrungsponge.blogspot.com/2007... ( )

Advance Reader Review
A very practical guide to understanding and managing arthritis. The book is broken into logical parts which take the reader through a progression which explains what arthritis is, how it develops, the relationship of obesity to arthritis, then into particularly helpful chapters about nutrition and exercise, followed by information about supplements, ending with medical or surgical options.

The writing style would be accessible to an older person who is looking for sensible advice about managing arthritis, delivered in a way which wouldn't be off-putting or overly scientific while not talking down to the reader at the same time. In an excellent section about the importance of a good diet, the value of various types of food are explained, as well as key vitamins which promote well-being. In the chapter on exercise, the importance of maintaining muscle strength is clearly explained as a factor in maintaining healthy joints. Exercises involving both strength and stretching are shown along with photographs, as well as with variations for those whose bodies might be more compromised. This would be particularly helpful to a wide range of people.

The last portion of the book deals with what to expect if faced with surgery to correct advanced arthritis. Coming from a medical practitioner working in the field, there are very direct and helpful tips of what to ask as well as explanations of various procedures.

On the whole, a useful book, with an accessible and friendly writing style.

One Liner: Accessible primer on living with osteoarthritis

The Arthritis Handbook provides a summary of the disease and methods of coping. The book recommends a lifestyle approach, including diet, stretch, strength training, and supplements. The book also discusses medications available, and the last resort of surgery. The stretches and strength training exercises are illustrated with photos.

I found the major failing of the book to be the lack of bibliographic information of the various studies mentioned. Full citiations would allow deeper research and verification of the book's conclusions. ( )

The Title "The Arthritis Handbook” could possibly be deceptive for those who have anything but osteoarthritis. A quick glance through the book would indicate it only relates to osteoarthritis; however it could be a problem if ordering on line. The book is a quick simple read that holds your attention. The book is very well organized with the first section explaining what happens to a joint when osteoarthritis occurs. This information is required for me in a health care related book. The nutrition and exercise sections have benefits other than those related to osteoarthritis. I could find no conclusive evidence that the supplements Dr. Cooper recommended work, but I did not find evidence that they don’t. I think the statement in the title that implies following the guide will give you a pain free life is exaggerated, and would prevent me from purchasing the book. This is too bad because after reading the book, I feel it would be beneficial. ( )

This book is inaccurately titled. Stedman’s Medical Dictionary states arthritis is: “inflammation of a joint or a state characterized by inflammation of joints,” but this book does not cover the majority of the over 120 types of arthritis that exist. This book only covers osteoarthritis, which the author states is the most common. If you have osteoarthritis and have not kept up to date with current complementary medicine then this is a good book for you. If you have osteoarthritis of the knee or hip, then it is excellent. The best part of this book is the author’s clear explanations of how you can alter the course of this debilitating disease. There is some repetition of exercises due to the way the author chose to organize his material, providing recommendations for those with disease of the knee and hip. This book would benefit those formally diagnosed with osteoarthritis and those who have known injuries to joints that are likely to predispose them to developing osteoarthritis. ( )

This primer on osteoarthritis management offers solid, concise advice useful for many, perhaps the majority of arthritis sufferers, and some valuable tips on prevention for the healthy: avoid repetitive injury and dehydration, eat a healthy diet, exercise appropriately. The section on exercises designed to prevent or slow down the degeneration of the most commonly affected joints is excellent. The outlined exercise regime in combination with the suggested diet, rich in fruit and vegetables and low in red meat and processed foods, is likely to result in weight loss, which in itself alleviates some arthritic symptoms in obese and overweight patients. In contrast, the usefulness of the recommended glucosamine/chondroitin supplement is dubious. The studies to date are conflicting and the ones showing a positive effect of the supplement do so in small measure and in a subgroup of patients; moreover, it is not clear that the supplement is safe over the long term. As for the rest of recommended “nutraceuticals”—cherry extract, vitamin E, avocado-soybean unsaponifiables and so on, there is no conclusive evidence of their utility either. With these cautions, I'd recommend this book.

LT Early Reviewer Program

The Arthritis Handbook: The Essential Guide to Pain-Free, Drug-Free Life. The subtitle really got my attention. A pain-free, drug-free life? My mother and other arthritis sufferers that I know certainly don't have that. This book offers hope.
In straightforward terms, Dr. Cooper discusses how arthritis develops. He stresses the importance of early diagnosis so that a treatment plan can be started as soon as possible.
The good news is that the same healthy eating and exercise that can prevent heart disease, cancer and diabetes can also prevent and alleviate arthritis. In addition to nutrition and exercise, the book has sections covering dietary supplements, medication, and surgery.
Patients with any stage of arthritis will find the book helpful to understand how the disease develops and progresses. It will be a useful tool in discussing treatment with their doctor. ( )

I was happy to receive this book. I have arthritis myself, and hoped it would give me some ideas.

I am an advocate of natural remedies and holistic healthcare.



This book begins by providing a simple, factual and complete understanding of the body’s joints and what is necessary to keep them healthy and ourselves active.



The Arthritis Handbook is just what I was looking for as a guide. All avenues are explored, including our diets, and how ample water in our diets is absolutely necessary. I knew that exercise is helpful, but this book offers easy to do exercises along with helpful photographs showing exactly how they should be done. The use of specific supplements is suggested, along with advice to use them under a physician’s care, and how to recognize those that follow basic manufacturing standards. At a time when so many supplements are available, this is something that is useful across the board, not just in management and prevention of arthritis.



After reading The Arthritis Handbook, I felt that I was on the right path. Instead of facing a future of increased pain and limited mobility, this book has shown me how to combat arthritis rather than accept it and try to manage the pain with medication.





Thank you for the opportunity to review this book. I once worked at and managed a holistic veterinary clinic. I know for a fact that the suggestions put forth in this guide work. I saw them used for animals, who have no preconceived notions or expectations. That proves the efficacy of a holistic approach, in my opinion. I use most of these techniques already, but have relied on walking and my rather physically demanding job for exercise. I am happy to see some alternatives. ( )