Tag: rehabilitation

Gift of Injury

This book is about healing injury in the athletes back and then building resilience to compete once again. Anyone who trains will enhance their injury resilience and performance employing these principles proven over and over with athletes.

In the highly competitive world of strength athletics, a back injury is seen by many as the ultimate career-ender. In truth, if handled properly, it is far from a death sentence. Follow the journey of international powerlifting champion Brian Carroll, who can attest to this first hand. This remarkable athlete went from 1100 lb squats and 800 lb deadlifts to unending pain and disability after a massive spinal compression injury. After a fortuitous meeting with leading back expert Professor Stuart McGill, he reset his training and his life to fight his way back to the top of the winner’s podium.

Glean expertise from McGill and Carroll, both masters in their field, and learn how to orchestrate your own triumphant comeback. Whether you are a former champion yourself who has fallen on hard times, or someone starting a new foray into the world of strength training who wants to avoid injury and maximize training, the wisdom found within these pages is sure to take your resilience and lifts to the next level.

Over 200 full color, rich illustrations demonstrate technique.

HKD 640 + Handling 45 (Local HK Only!)

 magnus.performance@gmail.com  for Inquiries for shipping to other Asian Countries

Endorsements for Gift of Injury

Foreword by Bill Kazmaier, 3 time World’s Strongest Man:

“I implore any strength athlete, whether they are injured and at their wit’s end, or healthy and striving to achieve their best with longevity, to read this book. The wisdom in these pages has helped me and Brian Carroll, and it will help you.”

From Dr. Aaron Horschig, Author of Squat Bible and owner of SquatUniversity.com

“In a world that pushes pain medication and costly surgery to “fix” back pain, this is a breath of fresh air! Brian Carroll and Dr. Stuart McGill combine for one of the most valuable books ever written on how to correctly address this injury. The Gift of Injury is a brilliant must have book for every strength athlete, coach and medical practitioner.” 

From Blaine Sumner, “Champion of Champions” IPF world record holder and highest Wilks score in powerlifting history:

“Before understanding Dr. McGill’s work, I thought my back injury meant the end of my lifting career. Since absorbing all of his knowledge and applying the lessons in this book to my daily life, my career has been restored. I am stronger than ever – and taking my back health to new heights.”

From Pavel Tsatsouline, Chairman, StrongFirst, Inc.

Gift of Injury is an extraordinary book that proves the adage that safety is not the opposite of performance but a part of it. Packed with priceless cues, it is a must for every serious strength athlete and coach. “

From Ed Coan, Greatest Powerlifter of All-time

“Gift of Injury pulls no punches, sheds light on what injury does to your physical and mental health and explains how to beat injury/pain to be happy once again! Every strength athlete should read this book to pull maximum performance out of the body while building injury resilience.”

From Stan Efferding, Worlds Strongest IFBB Pro Bodybuilder

“Back Mechanic and Gift of Injury are as much about injury prevention and performance optimization as they are about rehabilitation. And they’re not just for athletes. The simple and effective methods provide immediate and permanent results for everyone experiencing pain. Dr. McGill and Brian Carroll are changing lives – mine included.” 

From Travis Mash, All-time World Record Holding Powerlifter, Author, Coach and owner of Mashelite.com

“Dr. McGill and Brian Carroll bring you a triumphant story, a coaching/cueing guide, and a blue-print full of principles with 100% unvarnished truth that we as athletes face: Injury happens. In fact, an athlete myself – the opening pages of Gift of Injury truly felt like I was reliving my mid-30’s – where I dealt with debilitating injury on my own, but, without the help of an encyclopedia like GOI. The algorithms in this book are sure to help navigate you toward immediate success not only in a clinical setting but the ever-so-important ‘ultimate performance’ end of the spectrum. I highly suggest this book to anyone who trains!”

Table of Contents

FOREWORD BY WORLD’S STRONGEST MAN BILL KAZMAIER
How to read this book
Meet Stuart and Brian

SECTION 1: A STRENGTH ATHLETE’S STORY

Chapter 1: Breaking Point – the fork in the road

Chapter 2: The Early Years

  • The path
  • Mentorship – everyone needs a mentor
  • The path to powerlifting
  • Creating the monster
  • Tunnel vision
  • Early success

Chapter 3: Charting my spine’s demise

  • Encounters with back pain
  • My luck was starting to run out
  • Bad back to worse – broken back
  • Searching for relief

Chapter 4: Recovery – The athlete and the professor

Chapter 5: The injury explained

Chapter 6: The negotiation

SECTION 2: YOUR GUIDE: THE PATH FROM DISABLED BACK TO ULTIMATE STRENGTH AND INJURY RESILIENCE

Chapter 7: Commitment and resolve to get better

Chapter 8: A general approach to guide recovery

  • Stage 1: Getting rid of disabling pain
  • Stage 2: The general approach to determining the training program

Chapter 9: Assessment: Testing yourself – the key to designing your rehab-training program

  • Step 1: Assess demands
  • Step 2: Assess the athlete capabilities
  • Step 3: Design the program

Chapter 10: Programming – The foundation for pain-free and resilient training

SECTION 3: BRIAN’S PROGRAM AND PROGRESS TIMELINE

Chapter 11: Re-inventing a strength athlete 2013-2015

SECTION 4: STRENGTH TECHNIQUE, COACHING, TRAINING, AND PROGRAMMING

Chapter 12: Re-Mastering the powerlifts for all

  • The 5 basic principles of strength training
  • Your Warm-up guide
  • Coaching the powerlifts
    • – The Squat
    • – The Bench Press
    • – The Deadlift
    • – Programming assistance work for the big lifts

Chapter 13: Training wisdom – lessons earned the hard way

  • Training mindset and approach – the mentality
  • Big weights require big mindset
  • Visualization
  • The night before
  • Game day
  • Final countdown

Chapter 14: Retirement – Knowing when to step away

Chapter 15: Conclusion

Persistent low back pain and associated myths

According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, between 75% to 85% of the population are experiencing lower back pain. According to University of Maryland, it is the leading cause of disability among male under the age of 45. So if you are one of those people that are experiencing them at the moment, of having recurring episodic pain, understand that you are not alone.

So what happened if you have tried all, and nothing works. What does it mean when the leading “experts” claimed that its all in your head? Does it mean that you are going mad? What happens if you are sure if its real? Recent studies indicate that orthotics, acupuncture, even specialized beds has been inconclusive. In fact, according to Dr. Stuart McGill, Professor of Kinesiology at University of Waterloo, most back surgery does not give long term success for patients based on his 30 years experience. Does that mean that you are doomed to live with this pain for the rest of your life?

The main problem with low back pain is that people seems to think every one has the same problem and should be treated the same. But sorry folks, low back pain is not the same with diabetes. It’s more similar to cancer. Based on Dr. McGill’s research, there’s more than 6 different pain triggers for low back pain, all of them are associated with different conditions, and all each have unique solution. There is a time and place for back surgery, and most of the time you don’t need it. Of course, since a doctor’s time is precious, it will save the doctor a lot of time to give a general prescription to all low back pain (i.e. pain killer) and some common therapy exercise (i.e. yoga, pilates or swimming) before simply giving them a nuclear option (i.e. surgery) when it doesn’t work WITHOUT even trying to find the real trigger of your pain. Sounds familiar with you?

So what should you do? Finding a good back expert that is really passionate about helping people would be one. If you are lucky. Another option would be to simply read Back Mechanics by Dr. Stuart McGill, learn how to identify your own pain triggers and how to address them yourself. Hey, its definitely cheaper than a a visit to the chiropractor.

Oh, and the myths? Well, here are some of them based on the book:

  1. Myth: Stretching will help cure my backpain. Truth: Stretching will induce the stretch reflex in your muscles, giving temporary relief on the area. But if your pain is say due to disk bulge (what I used to have), then it actually put further stress on the affected disk. the relief itself only last 20 – 40 minutes.
  2. Myth: Pilates and or yoga will help cure my back. Truth: Some of the exercises in Pilates are actually bad for your lower back. Bad yoga teachers will get you bed bound for months by encouraging bad posture.
  3. Myth: My surgeon will cut my pain away.. Truth: In most cases, surgery will cause irreversible damage making you worse off than you were in the long run
  4. Myth: They say its all in my head. Truth: They need to get sent back to school, most of the time there is a cause and effect relationship between your pain and a physical phenomenon in your back.
  5. Myth: This pain killer the doctor prescribed will take care of the pain. Truth: unless the underlying cause is being addressed, you will ended up being dependent on the pain killer, most likely with ever increasing dosage.
  6. Myth: This work hardening exercise will make me less sensitized to the pain. Truth: You will be more sensitive to the pain just like a sore thumb will not become less sensitive by continually hitting it with a hammer.

References:

  1. American Association of Neurological Surgeons, December 2011
  2. University of Maryland, January 2012
  3. Painscience.com, July 2013
  4. Rosner A. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2014
  5. Clin J Pain. 2013 Feb;29(2):172-85. doi: 10.1097/AJP.0b013e31824909f9. Acupuncture for low back pain
  6. Stuart McGill research, http://www.ahs.uwaterloo.ca/~mcgill/
  7. Stuart McGill, Back Mechanics: Step by step McGill method to fix back pain

Ultimate Back Fitness and Performance

Get the latest scientific evidence on back exercise – what helps and what hurts, and why from world most renowned authority. Ultimate Back Fitness and Performance provides professionals with the evidence based to design and prescribe the best exercise programs for the back. Professor McGill’s unique approach is based on years of scientific research into back function of injured people through to elite athletes. His expertise is sought by governments, corporations, professional sports teams and athletes.

HKD 640 + Handling 45 (Local HK Only!)

IDR 1,100,000.- plus IDR 20,000.- handling fee for Indonesia. email magnus.performance@gmail.com  for Indonesian order and Inquiries for shipping to other Asian Countries

A complete description of a 5 stage program is provided. Many examples illustrate each stage within a bad back rehabilitation program together with a performance enhancement for athletes. Beginning with recognizing and re-pattering perturbed motor programs and progressing to the enhancement of stability, then endurance, the final stage continue with strength, power and agility training. Each step is well illustrated and instructive. Added to this are general approaches to assess the demands of individual activities and sports and how to identify the critical components that need specific focus in an individual’s back. Dr. MGill’s style makes for easy read of this thorough and rich resource.

Be prepared for a new approach. Ultimate Back Fitness and Performance is a myth buster!

Back Mechanic: Step by Step McGill Method to fix Back Pain

In an age where a seemingly endless amount of gimmicky back products are in circulation, a definitive guide to self-assessment and rehabilitation is more essential than ever. Back Mechanic guides you through a self-assessment of your pain triggers, then shows you how to avoid these roadblocks to recovery. Then effective exercises are coached in a step by step progressive plan. Spine expert, Prof. McGill used his 30 years of research findings and clinical investigations to create this evidence-based guide that has helped thousands reclaim their lives. This knowledge is now available to you in this richly illustrated book. You will become your own best Back Mechanic and advocate.

HKD 330 Book Only

HKD 700 Book + Video Modules

email magnus.performance@gmail.com  for order and inquiries

Praise for the “Back Mechanic”:

“Dr. McGill is Men’s Health’s go-to expert for back pain issues. His cutting-edge but practical advice has not only benefited our readers for more than a decade, but even helped my own father avoid surgery and experience lasting relief. Dr. McGill is truly the Jedi master of spine rehab.” – Adam Campbell, Editor-in-Chief, MensHealth.com

“There is no one better than professor Stuart McGill to advice on how to avoid and treat low back injuries. He has created a scientific foundation of what causes back pain that has guided clinicians around the world.” – Chris Riddoch, Professor of Sports & Exercise Science, Bath University, UK.

“Dr. McGill’s work is making a huge impact on the health of pilots and airmen. In the USAF, if you don’t know about the teachings of Stuart McGill, well let’s just say you don’t know.” – Philip Hardinger, Combat Medic, USAF

“He figured out my back and salvaged my Olympic career. The approach is in these pages with many clear and helpful illustrations.” – Bethany Hart, USA Olympian

“Dr. McGill is the most widely recognized spine researcher in the world. This book brings his knowledge straight to the people who need it most.” – William Morgan, DC Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Consultant to the White House

“He is the Dr’s back doctor, and in these pages guides the reader through the essential steps to become pain-free.’ – Dr. Clayton Skaggs, Injury Prevention and Performance coordinator, St. Louis Baseball Cardinals, and, Medical Director, Central Institute of Human Performance, St. Luis, USA.

“Since implementing Dr. McGill’s treatment protocols, our worker compensation patients have returned to their job sooner. In this book he explains back pain, and provides the reader with practical steps toward recovery. Distinctly readable.” – John Repac OTR/L and Rada Lorenz, RN, Montana Health Network, USA

“Dr. McGill’s unique approach restored a pain free back following a major back injury despite other experts telling me that my powerlifting career was finished. Once pain-free, I came back even STRONGER, and set records in powerlifting.” – Brian Carroll, Champion Powerlifter