Back Mechanic-VIDEO ENHANCED VERSION

I would highly recommend this book to anyone experiencing back pain. This book was truly a lifesaver for me, and has allowed me to live a pain free life. Professor Stuart McGill has condensed over 30 years of expertise on the spine, into a single volume that is accessible to the layperson. About fifteen years ago, I first threw my back out. I didn’t know what hit me, the pain was so intense I couldn’t move. I spent 8 years in the military, but this was a different kind of pain. It would take me thirty minutes just to get onto my feet, and my back was convulsing with spasms intensely. I thought I had broken my spine. After three days of this, my husband took me to the emergency room. There, they gave me powerful painkillers and shot me up with cortisone and sent me home. This took care of the pain, but was not a long-term solution. For the next year, I tried everything to fix my painful back. Acupuncture, massage, yoga, elliptical cardio, nothing worked on a long-term basis. I went from an athletic person who ran 40 miles a week, to not able to put on my own shoes. From embarrassment of asking my husband for help, I started wearing slip-on shoes. Only in my 30s at the time, I thought my body had betrayed me and was broken. Even breathing was painful, and I never knew when my back would get stuck in extension, so that I was barely able to move. Eventually, I tried physical therapy, which helped greatly but I was still in a lot of pain. Then, after reading “Crooked” by Cathryn Jakobson Ramin, where she chronicles her experience with back pain, I found Professor McGill’s books. It took me two days of serious study to go through the Back Mechanics book, including the self assessment to realize I had flexion intolerance. Finally, I had a diagnosis and understood why I was in pain and what I needed to do to fix it. No doctor in fifteen years was able to do this for me. Professor McGill explains how to avoid your pain triggers, how to move again without compromising your spine. He provides exercises to strengthen your core, that must be done daily and can simply be incorporated into any workout. Today, thanks to Professor McGill, I am stronger than ever and do daily bodyweight callisthenic workouts, love to go on long walks, and am in the best shape of my life (apart from right after basic training of course ☺.)

I gotta tell you. This book isn't cheap and I took my chances. I have had lower back issues most of my life and now being 60 years old its finally caught up with me. I tried many/all of the standard back exercises that I had been exposed to. Little did I know, after reading this book, that they were all wrong and likely contributed to the demise of my lower back. Before you buy this, you can Google the authors name, Dr. Stuart McGill, and try out his Big 3 exercises. However, the book explains so much more about our every day posture and movements that keep the back pain from ever truly dissipating. He also provides tests you can do on yourself to find the sweet spot of your posture. I found, for example, that sitting for any period of time left me with so much pain I could not stand up, upright, upon rising from a chair. I had to slowly stand up. I now use a cushion on my chairs that has helped immensely; but you have to find the right size. I made the mistake and got one that arched my back too much. Lastly, keep in mind that this is all about not only correct posture in standing sitting and walking, but also every day movements and he even touches on some workout moves performed with correct form. Its all about spine sparing and stiff spine vs the normal PT stuff of providing flexibility to your spine. Supper important distinction. Very counter to the PT culture. If you are an athlete (and I am one) he offers another book you may want to check out after this one. (I also purchased the video series that actually explains all this further and shows you how to do certain things - well worth paying for that upgrade). THANK YOU DR. STUART MCGILL!

There are so many excellent reviews of this book that I was hesitant to add another. If you have not yet read the reviews of the book, please read those, as the Video Enhanced Version is completely reliant on the book. In addition to the book, the Video Enhanced Version gives one year access (on Vimeo) to densely packed information in the form of a collection of 7 videos (total 1 hour 42 minutes) from 2:39 minutes to 26:12 minutes in length that demonstrate the movements and exercises from the book. There are additional variants to some exercises that are not in the book as well. I found the videos essential because I thought I understood the movements and exercises from the book, but after viewing the videos I was able to make critical adjustments that I would have otherwise missed. I recommend the videos as one more tool in the tool box. I'm another 60+year old with a 20+year history of chronic back pain and all that goes with it. I tried many, many, treatments. Back Mechanic empowered me to assess why I continued to have pain, and showed me what to do to fix it. I got IMMEDIATE, results with Back Mechanic because it helped me understand, my particular situation in a way that all of the physical therapists, bodywork practitioners, personal trainers, surgeons, pain management doctors, traditional Chinese medicine doctors, and others simply did not have the knowledge, skill, motivation, or time to provide. I'm not mad at them, I'm frustrated that I didn't find this book/video and apply it at the beginning of this journey. The material looks deceptively simple and is easy to understand but it is also dense with useful information that could be very helpful. Stuart McGill has given us a guidebook that provides clear and specific steps to take to understand, and the actions to take to prevent, relieve, and heal back pain, that is based on a lifetime of research based practice. If you or someone you care about has back pain, give them this book or make them aware of it. Especially gift this book to anyone you know who is planning on having any type of Back Surgery so they can make a fully informed decision.

Hi, I have had a 'tender' back for many years, a lot of my complaints have been mid-back related, not low-back, sciatic etc. I am a beekeeper in BC and injured myself last fall moving bee hives and spent the last 2 1/2 months of 2018 on muscle relaxants and ibprofen trying to finish my season. In Nov/ Dec I starting talking to my wife about the reality of selling our business as the thought of working another year with my pain *terrified* me The extra challenge I have had is the fact that I have been dealing with Psoriatic Arthritis for nearly 20 years. Through diet and lifestyle I have been fortunate enough to keep that fire under control without medication, but the fact my body having a propensity towards inflammation remains. This has made it extremely difficult to find exercises that didn't irritate my condition, as for many years my body has not been able to take a 'jolt' without causing pain or injury. Now I started looking at the 'big 3' on-line before the New Year and starting in January I implemented them into my daily routine. Towards the middle of January I decided that purchasing the book with the on-line helping videos was cheaper than 1 visit to our local RMT, I thought I got nothing to lose. The reality is I had everything to gain. Immediately I started walking every day and the through the month of February I started to see amazing results. In addition to the walking and 'big 3' I have added thoracic exercises that has been re-aligning and extending my spine. Without being to long-winded I want to share a couple points and achievements I have experienced. -I can now lay on my back with both my head and my ass touching the floor. -My neck pain doing the modified curl-up is slowly decreasing. - My endurance has improved - My thoracic spine felt like chopped meat for much of February, but the increase in movement is incredible and the pain is subsiding. -My mid-back was impossible to release, I told my chiro I will do nothing more but a monthly visit, he seems excited about helping me with my program and has been nothing but encouraging. -Biggest pain point was on my right sight where the thoracic meets the lumbar, at the start the side bridge was agonizing, now I can side bridge on both sides off my ankles!! But my reps and sets are off my knees. -For the first time in years I can stand against a wall with my heels and head touching the wall. -Upon exiting our childs middle school the road is littered in potholes. In January every pot hole felt like a a hammer and chisel on my spine. Now its only mild discomfort!!!!!! As I am sure Dr. McGill would recognize how challenged my posture has been due to unhealthy thoracic and cervical curves, This is being altered back to where it should be. Giving my core strength and resiliency that I have not had in decades. This book has changed (and is changing) my life. It has also given our small family beekeeping operation another chance at not only surviving but thriving. Thanks for supporting small farmers! I doubt Dr. McGill will have a chance to read this as he is everywhere doing many things, but I just wanted to thank him and say that he has changed my life. The last thing I want to add, this is not a '5-day fix' or some cheasy internet thing. I have been doing these exercises and walking 5-7 days a week for almost 3 months. I am fully committed to continuing this for 1 solid year. But seeing the progress is 'spine correction', and 'core strength' I am so thankful that I have started this journey.

Liked his science based, step-by-step explanations in his clear and calm manner. I teach Qigong & Tai chi to all age groups online and face to face. This book has given me (1) confirmation of what I do know and (2) new information I am using now, in my teaching, since I bought the book and watched his videos ++++++ a few weeks ago. Thank you prof McGill, for your years of dedicated research and now this, 'laymen's ' bible.

Book is easy to understand and video is very clear and helpful as it enhances the understanding after reading the book.

I bought this book after I listened the podcast about pain. Book is very helpful, watching video is cemented the info I read would recommend to everyone

I have been struggling with nerve pain due to a back injury for 6 months, multiple visits to physios, chiropractors and nuerosurgeons and haven't received any relief and in cases being given exercises that increase my symptoms. After reading Stuart's book and following his recommendations I noticed improvement within two weeks. 5 weeks in now and I have relieved my symptoms enough that I am no longer considering surgery. I would pay 5 x the price for the benefits I have taken from his book.