Articles & Scientific Publications written or (Co)Authored by Dr. McGill

30
Jul
2018

The Back Mechanic: Professor McGill covers many relevant and controversial topics for the trainer and clinician dealing with back pained clients.

Professor Stuart McGill is arguably the world’s foremost authority on matters related to the spine and back pain. With decades of experience, including thirty years as a professor at the University of Waterloo, his investigative research has explored the mechanics of back pain, rehabilitation, injury resilience and performance. Professor McGill is so sought after that […]

3
Jul
2018

Head position and the deadlift

By Stuart McGill. I have heard many opinions about how to position the head and neck during the deadlift. The science on this issue is quite sparse but the good news is you can find the best position for you and your clients. As with every technique there is no universal answer, rather the truth lies […]

23
Nov
2017

Leading Back Pain Expert Reveals How to Ease Chronic Back Pain – Lifetime Daily Expert Interview

There are countless reasons why adults 55 and over experience low back pain, including disc degeneration, arthritis, injury, muscle weakness and more. In fact, low back pain is one of the most common and poorly understood chronic conditions in older adults. One researcher making major contributions to the field is Dr. Stuart McGill. Q&A with […]

25
Aug
2016

Mens Health Article (2016): Fix it with the Back Mechanic

FIX IT WITH THE BACK MECHANIC Exerpt: “My exam began the moment I climbed out of my rented Chevy Cruze and walked up the driveway-I just didn’t know it yet. Nor did I suspect that by the end ofthe day, I would learn that I’d been exercising wrong, that I had a semi-serious back injury, […]

30
Nov
2015

My Journey to the Kettlebell

By Professor Stuart McGill The kettlebell is special to me! The journey to the KB as a training tool has linked me to several important events in my life. And it was part of the beginning of my friendship with Pavel (Pavel Tsatsouline – the man who introduced Kettlebells from behind the iron curtain to the […]

28
Nov
2015

Empowering Self Advocacy: Taking charge of your back pain (2015)

Most patients rarely receive the most important part of the prescription to get rid of back pain from their doctor – the knowledge and understanding of their condition required to become their own best advocate. They remain clueless and frustrated, left in the dark about what behaviors must be stopped in order to alleviate the […]

17
Aug
2015

The Fat Tongue technique (2015)

The Fat Tongue by Stuart McGill (Download PDF, 29Kb) Observe many top weightlifters approaching the bar, and taking their stance. Fixing their gaze above the horizontal they lift their chest extending the spine and neck. Arms waver at their sides in a slow rhythm exemplifying the old Russian technique for relaxation. The objective is to […]

30
Nov
2014

Why Everyone needs Core Training

Stuart McGill I have been working with back pained people and high performance athletes for over 30 years. If I were asked to choose the single most influential variable that links pain and performance enhancement, it would be an underperforming core. Why is this? What is the core? Core stiffness is essential for injury prevention. […]

17
Aug
2014

The Bottom Up Kettlebell Carry (2014)

The Bottom Up Kettlebell Carry by Stuart McGill (Download PDF, 33Kb) Every time I work with top international athletes I learn more about athleticism. We have all heard that having a strong core increases strength elsewhere in the body. Experience tells us this is true but I was incomplete in my explanation of the mechanism. […]

30
Nov
2013

Okinawan strength: Developing the “Iron Body”

Stuart McGill PhD (www.backfitpro.com) Strength is context specific – to remain immovable, to be resilient to blows and forces, and to lift and handle large loads with low risk of injury require a specific type of strength. The body is stiffened to become unbreakable. The martial arts of the island of Okinawa, Japan have embodied […]