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Dr Stuart McGill exercises--good or bad?
Hi everyone,
I'm wondering whether anyone has read Dr Stuart McGill's book Back Mechanic. I just bought it on the recommendation of my physiatrist at the Hospital for Special Surgery, and it's left me more confused than ever. Many of the exercises he urges are exercises I have specifically been told by numerous PTs and my physiatrist that I should not do. These involve both spinal flexion and spinal extension. Apparently flexion is bad for your spine if you have stenosis and extensions are bad if you have osteoporosis. I'm lucky enough to have both.
He also says that the knee-to-chest flex is terrible for you. That's a standard move in every PT's repertoire.
So I'm wondering whether anyone on the forum has similar problems and has tried his program. I'd love to hear your comments.
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Oops--got that backwards. Extensions are bad for stenosis but okay for osteoporosis, and flexion is bad for osteoporosis but okay for stenosis.
Sorry.
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2 ReactionsMy osteopath/MD helps me sort these things out..knee -to -chest is something my highly qualified PT (at NYPresbyterian) does with me at every session…I have various books and they only agree on some of the exercises.
@anewyorker
I've been a PT clinician and educator for over 50 years and have had multiple back issues plus surgery. There have been gurus of the month purporting one or another technique to alleviate back pain often contradicting each other. Stronger muscles and increased circulation to those muscles to me is the key. Strengthening the "core" ,which are the muscles surrounding the spine whether in the front or the back, whether deep or superficial, is the key. Do those activities which do not cause increased pain. The best advice I've ever heard is, " If you rest, you rust." Just increase activity a little at a time.
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4 ReactionsI would recommend a psysiatrist evaluation. I would trust what a doctor said to you about your specific health over what a book recommends for a general demographic, especially if your doc was at New York hospital for special surgery. They have a terrific reputation.
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2 Reactions@laura1970 recently, I have been helped a lot by PT at NYPresbyterian rehab department, overseen by an osteopath there. core and hip has been our focus…my next step is a community program for seniors run by that hospital at the nearby armory, which has a great indoor track.
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1 Reaction@nycmusic that sounds fantastic! Good for you!