Durable - by Amy West (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

The key to maximizing your physical independence and preventing injury at any age lies in the hidden connection between metabolism and musculoskeletal health

Dr. Amy West is intimately familiar with musculoskeletal aches and pains--whether they are a result of sports injuries, chronic diseases, or everyday stress on the body, she's seen it all in her sports medicine practice. But, startlingly, Dr. West has noticed over time that the way her patients experience pain, and how it holds them back from enjoying and participating in life's activities, varies widely. Take the fiftysomething avid gym-goer with a somewhat achy shoulder who discovers, despite minimal symptoms, that they have severe arthritis. On the flip side, a young, relatively healthy office worker is debilitated by shoulder pain that appears normal in X-rays. From case to case, Dr. West has found that regardless of age and diagnosis, the patients who are best able to navigate movement with ease and comfort are those with more optimal metabolic health.

In Durable, Dr. West reveals:

• how our muscles, bones, joints, and pain receptors all respond to our metabolic health;
  

• metabolic health markers you can test at home and with your doctors;
  

• when musculoskeletal pain is warning you to stop, and when to proceed with caution;
  

• how to exercise and train for improved quality of life and range of motion;
  

• recovery exercises for specific injuries and guides to scaling up once you get started; and
  

• customizable plans for a 30-day durable reset, including nutrition and exercise goals.
  

From back pain to knee injuries, strain on our bodies is often seen as a setback or a reason to stop moving. Durable is the refreshing road map we need to reevaluate pain as an indicator of weak points and to update our approach to fitness for a lifetime of wellness, comfort, and strength.

About the Author

Amy West, M.D., is a physician and researcher specializing in sports medicine, physical medicine, and rehabilitation. A graduate of Harvard Medical School and the Harvard Graduate School of Education, she completed her residency at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and went on to complete a sports medicine fellowship. Dr. West currently serves as an assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation and orthopedics at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and as a team physician for Hofstra University, NCAA Division I. Dr. West is also a competitive CrossFit athlete and Olympic weight lifter. She has been featured as a guest expert in The New York Times, People, Women's Health, and more. She lives in the greater New York City area.