Dr. Stuart McGill on Assessing, Rehabbing and Training the Spine

Dr. Stuart McGill is often considered to be the world’s foremost expert on spinal biomechanics. His patient list ranges from the general population to some of the world’s most elites athletes, and his work has produced over 240 peer reviewed journal papers and 4 books. In this mashed up replay from two of my most popular episodes, Dr. McGill and I cover a wide range of topics – from lower back movement assessments to program design and everything in between, if you have questions about the lower back or core, Dr. McGill is your guy. And in case you didn’t pick up on it in my intro, I want to say it again here: Dr. McGill has been one of the most influential people in my life as a coach. His work has heavily influenced me throughout my career, and I’ll be forever grateful for both his mentorship and kindness over the years. Now let’s jump in and talk about backs!   In the UFC the strikers with the bigger muscles end up “pushing” their punches – they’re slower because the use muscle. The ones who strike the hardest are the ones who create the “pulsive” strength. – Dr. Stuart McGill   This Week on the Physical Prep Podcast: What led Dr. McGill to the world of physical preparation and back rehabilitation. The assessment process Dr. McGill takes his patients and clients through. How the assessment process dictates and drives the training process. The reasoning behind using pain-free movement to expand the movement menu. Virtual Surgery: What it is, and why you should be using it. The worst back he’s ever seen, as well as one of the best results he’s ever had. Tightening the screws – is there anything Dr. McGill is doing differently today versus a year ago? Why the traditional model is outdated, and his thoughts on a superior model for rehabilitation. Updates on what life is like since retiring from teaching. How spinal type influences athletic performance. The concepts of stiffness, relaxation and impulse, and how they impact athletic movement. How rehabilitation approaches differ (and perhaps more importantly, are similar) between the lay population and elite athletes. His thoughts on flexibility for the spine. A shocking stat regarding injuries and personal training, and the advice he would give to young trainers and coaches to help keep them healthy. Real talk: Of his four books, does he have a favorite? Our always popular lightning round where we talk about his favorite summer past time, why he doesn’t miss teaching, and what’s next for Dr. McGill.     Connect with Dr. McGill: BackFitPro.com   Stop the Frustration! Get the Complete Coach Certification Are you a young fitness trainer or coach?