The Science of Back Injury: Some Inspiration Behind The Smartstrong Approach To Back Recovery

In this episode, we discuss some of the inspiration behind Smartstrong and the back-pain Solutions podcast. We detail one of the seminars we attended back in 2019, out in Eindhoven, where we spent several days with world renowned back expert professor Stuart McGill where we learnt some of the fundamental principles he takes in the management of back health with his clients, following years of research over in Canada.

Dr. Stuart McGill is a professor emeritus, University of Waterloo, where he was a professor for 30 years. Over that period his laboratory and experimental research clinic investigated issues related to the causal mechanisms of back pain, how to rehabilitate back-pained people and enhance both injury resilience and performance. Professor McGill’s professional work has resulted in over 400 scientific publications, including four textbooks!! The first book, Lower back disorders: Evidence based Prevention and Rehabilitation is now on its third edition and was written for clinicians such as us. His textbook Ultimate Back Fitness and Performance provides the evidence base to design and prescribe the most appropriate exercise programs for the back. In the book titled Back Mechanic, seeks to guide readers through a self-assessment of pain triggers, then shows how to avoid these roadblocks on the road to recovery. Most recently, his book The Gift of Injury, in collaboration with champion powerlifter Brian Caroll, is about healing injury in the athlete and building resilience to compete once again.

Some of the things you’ll discover:

• Why removing the aggravating factors is fundamental in the recovery of back injury?
• How the extensor muscles in the back contribute stability to the spine
• Why it’s important not to ignore the hips when assessing the back
• Don’t be misinformed by additional investigational findings such as MRI or X-ray
• Degenerative disc disease is NOT a diagnosis!
• Why we should identify what is appropriate for the rehabilitation goal of the individual, and not simply take a generic approach to recovery

Highlights

You wouldn’t tell your mother in law she had degenerative face disease so why is degenerative disc disease so commonly reported as a diagnosis for people with back pain?! Back pain always has a cause and degenerative disc disease, or degenerative joint disease, is not a diagnosis that should be given to a patient. All back pain always has a cause and for the most part, degeneration is rarely the cause of pain. Back pain complaints require a thorough history, and examination of the problem, if it is to be managed effectively for the specific individual, there are no short cuts!

For more episodes of the Back Pain Solutions podcast visit: www.smartstrong.co.uk Don’t forget to subscribe so you can receive updates on new episodes and direct links to additional content.

If you’re suffering from back pain, want to improve your posture, or want to build resilience to future injury then you’re in the right place. Join us and take an active approach to better back health.

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