PODCAST: Stuart McGill, the Lower Back Spine Doctor

When it comes to injuries for world class sprinters, the most frequent are hamstring pulls and knee problems.  Add Achilles tendon problems to Masters folks.

But in the world of the average layman, and sedentary slouch, you can add lower back problems, coupled with belly fat.

If you read my last article on core training, I mentioned Stuart McGill.  Of course, being Canadian, I have to give extra kudos to my fellow Canucks. 

For lower back and spine problems, the name that pops up time and time again is Stuart McGill.  He is a professor of spine biomechanics at the University of Waterloo, in Ontario, Canada.  Two of his landmark books are Ultimate Back Fitness and Performance and Low Back Disorders, Second Edition (CAVEAT: They are not cheap!)

When it comes to lower back problems and performing core exercises, they fall into 3 different camps:

1. Rehab patients
2. Optimal back and spine health for the average Joe
3. Elite training for maximum performance

All I care as a coach is #3.  Maybe when I’m old I’ll worry about #2.  And I’m not in a position to clinically diagnose back problems to safely help those in #1.

But Stuart McGill is.

Here is a great podcast… it’s long, over 75 minutes long…

Unfortunately due to bandwidth and costs reasons, the UKA.org.uk site for media is now locked down to UK residents only (or, to be exact, those with UK computer IP addresses.  Those in the know will know how to bypass that.)

Those in the UK can access the Stuart McGill podcast here.  Otherwise, use the handy player below.

PODCAST Info: Stuart McGill

Interview Date: December 2009

Duration: 77 mins

File Size: 35 MB