DeepSummary
In this episode, Dhru Purohit interviews Dr. Stuart McGill, a renowned expert on back pain and spinal mechanics. They discuss the prevalence of back pain in modern society, with up to 80% of people experiencing some form of debilitating back pain in their lifetime. Dr. McGill explains how our sedentary lifestyles and repetitive movements contribute to this issue, emphasizing the importance of understanding the specific mechanisms behind each individual's back pain.
Dr. McGill shares his unique approach to treating back pain, which involves a thorough assessment of the patient's pain patterns, movements, and imaging to identify the root cause. He highlights the limitations of traditional medical practices and the need for a more comprehensive understanding of spinal mechanics. The discussion covers various myths surrounding back pain and the importance of tailoring exercises and treatments to each person's unique needs.
The conversation also touches on preventative measures, such as incorporating the 'Big Three' exercises (bird dog, side plank, and modified curl-up) and following Dr. McGill's 'Biblical Training Week' approach, which emphasizes a balanced routine of strength training, mobility work, and cardiovascular exercise. Dr. McGill emphasizes the importance of finding the right balance and avoiding excessive stress on the spine to promote long-term spinal health and resilience.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Up to 80% of people will experience some form of debilitating back pain in their lifetime, largely due to modern sedentary lifestyles and repetitive movements.
- Dr. McGill emphasizes the importance of identifying the specific pain pathway for each individual through a comprehensive assessment, challenging the notion of 'nonspecific low back pain.'
- Proper movement and exercise are crucial for addressing back pain, and diet alone may not be sufficient.
- Dr. McGill's approach involves tailoring exercises and treatments to each person's unique needs, based on a thorough understanding of spinal mechanics and the root cause of their pain.
- Incorporating exercises like the 'Big Three' (bird dog, side plank, and modified curl-up) and following a balanced routine like Dr. McGill's 'Biblical Training Week' can help prevent and address back pain.
- Dr. McGill acknowledges the limitations of his approach, with success rates varying based on the individual's specific pain mechanism.
- A personalized and comprehensive approach, taking into account the individual's unique circumstances and pain patterns, is essential for effectively treating back pain.
- Challenging traditional medical practices and seeking a deeper understanding of spinal mechanics can lead to more effective solutions for back pain.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “The often quoted rate of incidence and prevalence is about 80%.“ by Stuart McGill
- “There's no such thing as nonspecific low back pain. It's all very, very specific, but it requires a fairly thorough assessment to figure out what the specific pain pathway is, and then we know what caused it.“ by Stuart McGill
- “If you're not moving well and exercising appropriately, you won't overcome any of those deficiencies through diet.“ by Stuart McGill
- “So my message to them, would you put yourself in that category as well? Are you in that category or are you in one way or another just so I can get an approximation?“ by Dhru Purohit
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Episode Information
Dhru Purohit Show
Dhru Purohit
5/8/24
This episode is brought to you by Birch, Plunge, and AquaTru.
Back pain is a common affliction exacerbated by our modern and sedentary lifestyles. This discomfort frequently hinders work and daily activities. Our guest today delves into the back's anatomy, identifying movements—or lack thereof—that contribute to pain and discussing factors contributing to its increasing prevalence.
Today, on The Dhru Purohit Show, Dhru and Dr. Stuart McGill delve deep into back pain. Dr. McGill shares insights into why back pain is so prevalent, dispels myths surrounding it, and discusses the types of repetitive stress and strain that can lead to chronic pain. He also outlines his approach to treating back pain and highlights the limitations clinicians face in treating their patients.
Dr. Stuart McGill is a distinguished professor emeritus at the University of Waterloo and the chief scientific officer at Backfitpro Inc. McGill has written more than 200 scientific publications on the topics of lumbar function, low back injury mechanisms, investigation of tissue loading during rehabilitation programs, and the formulation of work-related injury avoidance strategies. He has received several awards for his work, including the Volvo Bioengineering Award for Low Back Pain Research from Sweden.
In this episode, Dhru and Dr. McGill dive into (audio version / Apple Subscriber version):
- The prevalence of back pain (00:00:36 / 00:00:36)
- Drivers of back pain in our modern world (3:17 / 3:17)
- Repetitive stress and strain that leads to back pain (12:00 / 8:36)
- Types of training and how to choose what is best (22:00 / 17:50)
- Dr. McGill’s origin story (34:00 / 28:00)
- The myth of non-specific back pain (49:00 / 43:50)
- How to find an appropriate clinician (57:00 / 52:17)
- The Big Three principles to prevent back pain (1:04:00 / 59:06)
- Ancestors ability to engage in a variety of movements (1:15:00 / 1:10:10)
- Training in cycles (1:23:00 / 1:18:27)
- Advice for Dhru’s pain (1:33:00 / 1:28:00)
- Dr. Gill’s Seven-Day Approach (1:37:00 / 1:32:30)
- Stretch what is weak and stretch what is tight (1:47:00 /1:52:30)
Also mentioned in this episode:
- Dr. McGill’s book, Back Mechanic
- Finding a clinician trained by Dr. McGill
- Spine Models
For more on Dr. McGill, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, or his website.
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