Ted Kerasote, Wyoming, USA (Author of some of my favourite books)

My back has been excellent.  All your advice, my continuing the Big 3 core exercises, and the auto mechanic’s stool for my desk have brought about a profound change in my comfort and ability to resume the things I love to do, like hike, ski, and write for long hours.  Your advice on recuperating from my lower back surgery was also invaluable.

From not being able to walk more than ten minutes without numbness in my right quad (and having to stop and find a convenient rock or bench to hang from), I’ve gone to hiking more than six hours at a stretch while carrying a 25-pound hunting pack and climbing and descending a thousand meters.  I’m thrilled.  Thank you!  Thank you!

I’ve been recommending Back Mechanic left and right.

(Photo by Heather Erson)

Michael De La Pava ~ Strongman competitor and Owner The Battle Axe Gym, Florida

To Brian Carroll and Professor McGill

I wanted to send you this video to thank you. Having worked with Brian and implementing the ideas and principles that not only he showed me but that you helped instill in my training and coaching, has absolutely changed my life. Here I am log clean and pressing 300 pounds after starting “Back Mechanic” and “10/20 life”, 21 months ago.. after being told I would never overcome my devastating back injury. Thank you for everything.

Ethan Bowman, North Dakota State Champion wrestler

Thank You Dr Ed Cambridge (McGill Method provider)

This last weekend Ethan punched his ticket as a ND state champion. We want to thank you for your professionalism and very kind and generous heart, you gave up and above what any Doctor would have given. My wife and I along with Ethan want to thank you for a job well done.

Shawn Bowman 

Howard M. Armitage ~ World champion

As most of you know by now, I had a good week winning my division (75+ – can’t believe I’m that old) at the World Masters Squash competition. 

This win wouldn’t have happened without the support, advice and assistance of a select group of people who I would like to acknowledge.

First, none of what I’ve been able to accomplish in the last several years – academically, socially or physically – would have been possible if I hadn’t had the good fortune of encountering Dr Stuart McGill.  Having previously broken my back twice, I had reached a stage of desperation characterized by constant pain, utter fatigue, inability to sleep and an almost total loss of quality of life. Visits to GP’s, specialists, chiropractors and physiotherapists were not helping and actually making my symptoms worse. Opioids and surgery were on my horizon (when faced with constant pain, you are willing to try anything).  At that point, a colleague who was watching me go downhill suggested I try to get an appointment with Stuart McGill, a renowned lower back expert at the University of Waterloo who was treating professional athletes for various types of serious back issues. He was busy enough that he certainly didn’t have to see me – but, thankfully, he did. 

I still recall Stu’s words after he had examined me. “Howard, I can’t fix your old injuries but I can take your pain away if you will follow three simple basic exercises”. To be honest, I didn’t believe him. However, with nothing to lose, I followed his exercise regime.  The rest is history. I went from someone who couldn’t sleep, couldn’t walk, couldn’t smile, and who couldn’t think of anything other than pain to someone who began to walk again, smile again, bicycle again and, unbelievably, to start playing squash again.  So this first thank you is to you, Stu, for your dedication to science and for making me whole again. As you know, I have since become a McGill disciple whenever I see or hear of someone with lower back pain.

US Army Ranger, 2018

First I want to say thank you for sharing your story in your book Gift of Injury. I was in Texas a few months ago, and Ed Coan told me to read your book. It has given me a new outlook and helped me get back on track. 



I was like you and many others who have been searching to be able to not only keep lifting but move without pain. Your book as done that for me. My story might be a little different than most powerlifters. On top of the stress of deadlifts, and squats, I am a 22 year still serving Army Ranger that has been jumping out of planes since 1996.

My spine has endured a lot of impacts. In the last few years, I have slowly gotten worse and got to the point of giving in to the medical professional of looking at getting cut or even being medically boarded out of the Army – Not something that is easy on the mind. Not being what I used to be sat heavy on me.  And then being told my way of copy with stress (powerlifting) might have to stop as well was not good. All of this was a source of darkness that was growing within me. I was looking for answers and solutions, and none was there but ones that make me live a life that was not what I wanted.



I honestly was a little skeptical that doing the McGill Big 3 and walking would help my condition. I mean eight months of Physical Therapy with direct attention from the doctor and nothing, I didn’t expect much. I am glad to say I was wrong. 

Overnight my pain was put in check, reduced immensely, my back felt relaxed and not like I was one move away from getting a major surgery.  Life feels better once again. I am religious about doing my Big 3 twice daily and getting my walks in. I started lifting again and has got back on track after taking months off. I thank you (ed: Brian Carroll) and Dr. McGill for this.


C.D.

Cathryn Jakobson Ramin / American journalist, investigative reporter, and author.

Cathryn Jakobson Ramin, in her back pain industry expose book “Crooked”, calls Professor McGill a “Back Whisperer” with his approaches proved to help so many.