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McGill, Stuart M.

Stu McGillMcGill Photo

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Research:

Our research in the Spine Biomechanics Laboratory has three objectives: to understand how the low back functions; to understand how it becomes injured; and, knowing this, formulate and investigate hypotheses related to prevention of injury and optimal rehabilitation of the injured back, and ultimate performance of the athletic back.

We have two separate laboratory approaches - one which examines intact humans which utilizes a rather unique approach that monitors spine motion and body segment position, muscle activation, ligament involvement and modelling tissue loading in each individual subject; and a second approach where we examine the mechanical behaviour of low back tissues and spine specimens. Our graduate students have been involved in several issues such as investigating the load tolerance of the spine under various types of load, assessment of spine stability, examination of devices such as abdominal belts, examination of various injury mechanisms and determining the safest methods of achieving performance in the back, to name a few.

This work has been recognized with many awards including the R. Tait McKenzie Award 2005, the CSB Career Award 2004, the Stow visiting lectureship from the Ohio State University College of Medicine 2002, the Steven Rose Lectureship from the Washington University School of Medicine 2001, to name a few.

Preparing Leaders:  Virtually all of the graduate students from the Spine Biomechanics Laboratory land exciting careers.  Many are recruited as faculty members, and some become ergonomists or take various clinical positions.

For further information about my research please see my Publications, and visit the Spine Biomechanics Laboratory.

Professor McGill currently serves on the editorial board for the journals Clinical Biomechanics, Applied Biomechanics and Spine.

lowback book cover book 2

dvd cover imageDVD photo

Click here for information on Dr. McGill's Books, Speaking Schedule.

 

Key Publications

Books

  1. Augaitis, R. Kell, R. Kourtis, G. McGill, S. Whitmarsh, L. Springle, N. Personal Fitness: Faster, Stronger, Smarter. Textbook for High School Curriculum Thompson Books, Toronto, 2011
  2. McGill, S.M.  Ultimate back fitness and performance, Backfitpro Inc., Waterloo, Canada, 2004. ISBN 0-9736018-0-4 (www.backfitpro.com).  Fourth edition 2009.
  3. McGill, S.M.  Low back disorders: Evidence based prevention and rehabilitation, Human Kinetics Publishers, Champaign, IL, U.S.A., 2002. ISBN 0-7360-4241-5, Second Edition, 2007.
                Now also printed in Japanese, 2003
                Now also printed in Chinese, 2009.

The research listed in the publications below has been synthesized and unified in the books.

Clinical DVDs

  1. McGill, S.M., The Ultimate Back: Enhancing Performance (www.backfitpro.com), 2010
  2. McGill, S.M., Clinical Techniques for the Ultimate Back:  Assessment and Therapeutic Exercise (www.backfitpro.com), 2007.

 

Publications in Refereed Journals

*Indicates first authors who were students at time of development of the paper.

  1. Moreside*, J. and McGill, S.M., (2011) Quantifying normal 3D hip range of motion in healthy adult males with clinical and laboratory tools: Hip mobility restrictions appear to be plane specific. Clin. Biomech. 26:824-829.
  2. McGill, S.M., (2011) Is a postural-structural-biomechanical model, within manual therapies, viable: AJBMT debate. Invited Response J. Bodywork and Movement Therapy 15(2):150-152.
  3. McGill, S.M.,(2010) <Invited Review> Core training: Evidence translating to better performance and injury prevention. Strength and Conditioning Journal 32(3):33-46.
  4. Brown, S.H.M. and McGill, S.M. (2010) The relationship between trunk muscle activation and trunk stiffness:  Examining a non-constant stiffness gain.  Computer Methods Biomech Biomed Enging.13(6): 829-835
  5. McGill, S.M., (2010) Quick Tip: Wearing a weight belt, Journal of the National Strength and Conditioning  Association. 
  6. Yates, J.P. and McGill, S.M., (Accepted Jan 2010)  The effect of vibration and posture on the progression of intervertebral disc herniation. SPINE.
  7. McGill, S.M., Chaimberg, J., Frost, D., Fenwick, C. (2010) The double peak:  How elite MMA fighters develop speed and strike force.  Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 24(2): 348-357.
  8. Depalma, M., McGill, S.M. (2010) Does sustained hip flexion and pelvic rock predict the etiology of low back pain? Phys. Med. and Rehab.
  9. Brown, S.H.M. and McGill, S.M.  (2010) A comparison of ultrasound and electromyography measures of force and activation to examine the mechanics of abdominal wall contraction. Clin.Biomech. 25:115-123.
  10. Yates, J.P., Giangregorio, L. and McGill, S.M.  (2010) The influence of intervertebral disc shape on the pathway of posterior/posterior lateral partial herniation.  SPINE. 35 (7):734-739.
  11. McGill, S.M., Belore, M., Crosby, I., Russell, C. (2010) Comparison of two methods to quantify torso flexion endurance.  Occup. Ergonmics.
  12. McGill, S.M., Rehabiliation of the painful back: IDEA Fitness Journal, January 2010.
  13. Marshall, L., McGill, S.M.  (2010) The role of axial torque/twist in disc herniation.  Clin.Biomech. 25(1): 6-9.
  14. Brown*, S., McGill, S.M. (2009)  The intrinsic stiffness of the invivo lumbar spine in response to a variety of quick releases:  Implications for reflexive requirements, J. EMG Kinesiol. 19(5):727-736
  15. Fenwick, C.M.J., Brown, S.H.M., McGill, S.M. (2009) Comparison of different rowing exercises:  Trunk muscle activation, and lumbar spine motion, load and stiffness.  Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 23(5):1408-1417.
  16. McGill, S.M., Karpowicz, A., Fenwick, C. (2009) Ballistic abdominal exercises:  Muscle activation patterns during a punch, baseball throw, and a torso stiffening manoeuvre.  J. Strength and Cond. Res. 23(3): 898-905.
  17. McGill, S.M., Karpowicz, A., Fenwick, C.  (2009) Exercises for the torso performed in a standing posture:  Motion and motor patterns.  J. Strength and Conditioning Res. 23(2): 455-464.
  18. McGill, S.M., There is no such thing as non-specific back pain.  A position paper written for the Centre of Research Excellence:  Musculoskeletal Disorders. www.cre-msd.uwaterloo.ca
  19. Liebenson, C., Karpowicz, A., Brown, S., Howarth, S., McGill, S.M. (2009) The active straight leg raise test and lumbar spine stability.  Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.  1 (6): 530-535.
  20. McGill, S.M. and Fenwick, C.M.J. (2009) Using a pneumatic support to correct sitting posture in airline seats.  Ergonomics. 52(9):1162-1168.
  21. Vera Garcia, F., Moreside, J., McGill, S.M. (2009) MVC techniques to normalize trunk muscle EMG in healthy women.  J. Electro. Kines.  20:10-16
  22. Sanchez-Zuriaga, D., Vera-Garcia, F.J., Moreside, J., McGill, S.M. (2009) Trunk muscle activation patterns and spine kinematics when using the body blade:  Influence of different postures and blade orientations.  Arch. Phys. Med. Rehab.  90 (6): 1055-1060.
  23. Banerjee*, P., Brown S., Howarth, S., McGill, S.M. (2009) Torso and hip muscle activity and resulting spine load and stability while using the Profitter 3-D Cross Trainer.  J. Appl. Biomech., 25: 73-84.