Alexander Melleby

Qualifications:  Former director of health and physical fitness programs for the 33 YMCA's of New York City. The national director of "The Y's Way To A Healthy Back".

Personal History:  I became interested in physical fitness through Thomas K. Cureton, Ph.D., founder and director of the first Physical Fitness Laboratory at the University of Illinois. I also worked with Hans Kraus, M.D., the father of Sports Medicine in this country. Dr. Kraus was the only M.D. to help President Kennedy substantially reduce his back pain.

Workout Philosophy: The human body is the only machine that improves the more you put it to use (within reason) and, when it’s not used, it wastes away.

Success Story: Mr. Tomonelli in New York City wrote me to say, “While working on a construction project, I fell very hard on my back, landing on concrete. Each week after that fall, I experienced increasing pain in my left leg. It became so bad that I had great difficulty walking. I finally could not walk at all without unbearable pain in my leg and lower back, so I stopped working altogether. “I visited an orthopedic surgeon and had the whole series of x-rays, tests, etc; the doctor showed me the site of my back trouble. My doctor advised fusion surgery as the only chance for me. I asked for one more month to try and show some improvement; if not, I would undergo the surgery. On the way home, I bought your book. It detailed a whole series of week-by-week exercises which I decided to try starting that very day. “At the end of the six-week course, I was better, but not enough to resume my normal routine. The second week, I walked 10 minutes every other day, then 15, then 20, 25, and 30 until I could walk 45 minutes to 1 hour with no leg or back pain. My doctor was amazed at my progress and definitely ruled out surgery (and admitted he was sure that I would have needed surgery a few short months ago). “It has been 16 weeks since I started the exercise program and I can truthfully say I am completely free of pain in my back and leg. Now, mind you - as the doctor reminded me - my back has not been ‘cured.’ But, I am free of that crippling pain; I can walk now and move around normally and, each day, my mobility is better. The benefits of your exercises seem to be cumulative. “Thank you for giving me another chance to enjoy life.”