Dr. Stuart McGill: Build a Strong, Pain-Proof Back

In this episode, my guest is Dr. Stuart McGill, Ph.D., a distinguished professor emeritus of spine biomechanics at the University of Waterloo and a world expert on spine anatomy and physiology, back pain, and rehabilitation. We discuss the most common sources of back pain, how back pain can be assessed (including self-assessment techniques), and how to design a personalized recovery plan to reduce back pain.

We discuss how to train for lifelong fitness, reduce injury risk, and protect your back and joints based on your age and personal goals. We also discuss how to prevent back pain, build core stability, and explain how “McGill’s Big 3” exercises protect and strengthen the back. Dr. McGill, who is exceptionally fit in his late 60s, describes his low-time investment, personal training routine, and the specific exercises he uses for mobility, strength, and cardiovascular fitness.

We also discuss controversial issues in the back pain and rehabilitation field, including how pain originates, the biopsychosocial model of pain, and treatments such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP). This episode provides clear, actionable tools to strengthen, prevent, and remedy back pain and injury so you can be pain-free while enjoying sports, exercise, and daily activities at any age.

*Thank you to our sponsors*

*Huberman Lab Social & Website*

*Dr. Stuart McGill*

*Timestamps*
00:00:00 Dr. Stuart McGill
00:02:33 Sponsors: Helix Sleep, BetterHelp & Waking Up
00:06:23 What Causes Back Pain?; Genetics, Dog Breed Analogy
00:12:55 Tool: Skeleton & Body Type; Spine Flexibility & Discs
00:20:25 Flexibility & Exercises; Discs & Collagen
00:25:43 Sponsor: AG1
00:27:32 Stress & Tipping Point; Athletic Tradeoffs, Triathletes
00:36:17 Back Pain, Goals & Training Program
00:45:57 Spine Hygiene, Back Pain, Powerlifting
00:53:33 Genetics & Running
00:59:34 Sponsor: LMNT
01:00:46 Rehabilitation & Reducing Volume; Injury
01:07:42 Tool: Training for Lifelong Fitness, Injury & Joints
01:17:40 Pain Types, Biopsychosocial Model of Pain
01:26:15 Coaching, Explosivity & Endurance
01:32:43 Virtual Surgery & Rest, Pain Recovery
01:41:25 Tool: McGill’s Big 3; Building Back Strength & Stability
01:46:39 Inversion Tables & Spine Deloading, Disc Bulge, Tool: Lumbar Support
01:51:09 Tool: Daily Walking; Sitting
01:55:33 Deadlift & Bone Density, Glute-Ham Raise
02:06:20 Training & Age, Osteoporosis, Tool: Deadlift Alternatives
02:16:47 Tools: Biblical Training Week; Spine Stability & McGill’s Big 3; Shrinking & Age
02:24:16 Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP); Disc Damage
02:27:56 Tools: Biblical Training Week & Strength Exercises, Neck Strength
02:35:24 Tools: Sword Play, Distal Limb Loading, Training for Symmetry
02:42:38 Tools: Biblical Training Week, Mobility & Cardiovascular Exercises, Athletic Panel
02:49:22 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow & Reviews, YouTube Feedback, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter

#HubermanLab #BackPain

[hubermanlab]

Thank you for watching. If you enjoyed this topic and episode, please click the "like" button and subscribe to our channel here on YouTube.
Thank you for your interest in science! -- Andrew

[Jakerton]

Huberman gonna need this info because he’s been carrying my physical / mental health journey.

[julians]

I could listen to Stuart McGill the entire day. He is a living encyclopaedia connecting the dots between different fields of science. Fascinating!! Please visit again 🎉

[alexandraalexandra]

I read mcgill's back mechanics a month ago and it changed my life! After going to several doctors who told me to just go home and it will go away in time, when I finally discovered this book I started adjusting my moves and became very aware of how to stand, how to walk and more importantly that the "suck your ab in" promoted by so many youtubers while working out is actually what fucked up my back! Learning what bracing my core is was a life changer! I deeply recommend his book to learn what we should have learned during our lives!

[NickCaccavella-zp]

Ive practiced the big three protocol in Back Mechanic for over 1000 days in a row. Dr Mcgill’s work saved my life. Thank you for having him on. L5-S1 herniation with biaxial bulges on both L3-L4 and L4-L5. I went from full radiating nerve pain down both legs to getting my life back. LOVE YOU MCGILL

[brunodangelo]

I want to suggest an episode about tendon health

As a musician, I developed tendonitis years ago. No one told me about it, I only learned of it after the disease.

And even then getting solid information was hard. I think such an episode would be really helpful.

[furbait]

cant believe you got Stuart McGill to be on the podcast! great episode!

[rdcruick]

Had Stuart Mcgill as a professor for one kinesiology class. Dude is absolutely electric, and extremely knowledgeable. Best class I ever had.

[cassandrabrecht]

As a long-time back pain sufferer, I cannot thank you enough for this interview!

[brandonotoole]

Blew out 4 discs at 27 years old after a surgery at 19 for 3 of those same discs. It was debilitating and demoralizing. Dr. McGills videos helped me rehab, now 29 lifting, working and playing with my daughter, pain free. Thank you!

[Khodalyr]

Truly one of those "pristine guests" episodes. This kind of podcast episode is one of the greatest things about our time, period. What a privilege to be listening to this. We should all be very thankful to both of you.

[waakdfms]

What a gift to have Dr. McGill on your show. I have transformed my life through his program which I began at age 60, avoided surgery, and my spine surgeon said it's due to diligently following his program that has kept me as highly functional as I am at age 66 with so many injuries due to a very very active life. I'm always in awe of his knowledge, ability to break down and convey information with such exact detail, and clarity in explaining such complex stuff. Thank you, Andrew--!! PS - My advice -- take what Dr. McGill says seriously folks.

[thomasrobertfitness]

He saved my life with the big 3!I can’t even describe my gratitude! 🙏🏻

[taisnicoletti]

What a great clinician and researcher! He nails down the need for psychology in atending to traumatized people. This was a very, very special episode.

[seanbiggins]

Being 51, a firefighter for 30 plus years and having just had an L3 discectomy, I am on the long slow road to recovery. This was a phenomenal podcast to listen to while on my walks. I am certain that I will need to listen to it again.
I did learn that I have been doing a lot of things incorrectly in relation to my life style and fitness journey. I have a lot to learn and appreciated this podcast. Thank you for the info and I look forward to learning what I can do to live a healthy active lifestyle for years to come. Thank you again.

[thundersleycleaningco.]

Had a bad back for 30 years and worked on it almost daily, this has taught me less is more, tried the Big 3 for the first time while listening, almost instant reduction in pain. Big 3 now part of my routine.

[realgoose]

I first knew about Dr. McGill from @SquatUniversity. Happy to hear him go in depth!

[riazr]

Ive scoured the web to fix my back. All roads lead back to Dr. Mcgill and his mesmerizing mustache.

[uygygog]

Thank you so much for inviting Dr. McGill on the podcast. The man singlehandedly ended my back pain with his boo "back mechanics". There is so much misinformation about back pain and people just keep doinf blanket exercises injuring themselves even more. My biggest mistake was stretching the back since it removed my pain for 20 minutes and then it came back even stronger, delaying this pain further and further until I collapsed from pain Infront of my university.

[garydavis]

The big 3 helped me somewhat, but I was still struggling with quite a bit of back pain. What helped me the most was the Movement Vault app's low back pain program. It was literally a game changer for me. Much more structured and in-depth than just repeating the same3 exercises day in and day out. I'm typing this with zero back pain after struggling for the past 3 years. My hip and core mobility have also improved a lot. Highly recommend the app