Dr. Stuart McGill On Parenting
“I start by thinking about my interactions with back-pained clients. Some need empathy and a hug. Others are looking for an authority to tell them in plain English that they need to change their behaviour, or outlook, or commitment and when this is really the right path they will thank you for it. Its the same with parenting. Hopefully I get it right more often than not.”
-Stu McGill
Dr. Stuartt McGill, maybe best known for the McGill Big 3, is one of the world’s leading experts on the back. I’ve been a fan of his for a long time, using much of his advice in my treatment sessions. But when I heard him on The Muscle Intelligence podcast with Ben Pakulski recently, I was most enthralled by their conversation about parenting. So, I reached out for more on his parenting style, what he learned about parenting from his clients, and what he would do differently.
But before we dive in, here is more about Stu McGill.
Dr. Stuart McGill, a distinguished professor emeritus at the University of Waterloo for 30 years, is renowned for his extensive research on the causal mechanisms of back pain, rehabilitation strategies, and improving injury resilience and performance. With over 245 peer-reviewed scientific journal papers, numerous awards, and recognition, including the Order of Canada in 2020, he has been a sought-after advisor for governments, corporations, legal experts, medical groups, and elite athletes globally. As Chief Scientific Officer for Backfitpro Inc., he continues to consult on challenging back cases and elite performance while educating clinicians and practitioners worldwide.
4 Questions For Stu McGill
1. You've mentioned that one of the most challenging aspects you've faced as a parent is the dilemma of knowing "when to be hard and when to be soft." This is something I mentally battle constantly. What were some of the guiding principles that you used to lean one way or the other?
I start by thinking about my interactions with back-pained clients. Some need empathy and a hug. Others are looking for an authority to tell them in plain English that they need to change their behaviour, or outlook, or commitment and when this is really the right path they will thank you for it. Its the same with parenting. Hopefully I get it right more often than not.
2. Looking back, what would you have done differently in choosing one direction vs. the other?
People are different and your kids are people. Be an adult and use your best intuition for the situation and the individual.
3. You've worked with many world-class athletes who need to be in an emotionally dark place to perform at their best. These powerlifters, sprinters, and Navy SEALs are the best at what they do partially because of their ability to achieve this emotional state. Do you believe this is something that is built into our genes or something that is "nurtured" or developed through childhood?
It can be both. Every super-elite athlete is “wired”. They are touched by the “hand of god”. There are several components to the patterns that affect their ability to be strong, or fast, or elastic, or have situational IQ, plus the mental state required to put these together.
Some historically report a form of trauma or abuse that unleashes the fury of dark thought needed for extreme density of neural drive. Others report “a light” that invades their body as they reach the “flow state”. The next tier of elite athletes will have some athletes that have benefitted more from excellent training and nurturing but obviously also have some genetic gifts.
You mention SEALs. In my experience, many are not highly gifted athletes. They have an extreme mental toughness that I perceive is a combination of genetics, and past experience. Their abilities come more from work and dedication.
4. What advice do you have for new parents who are feeling the strain on the back of picking up their babies from cribs?
Read my book Back Mechanic. Do the self-assessment to know your triggers. Then follow the movement patterns to shift the back strain to the hips. Train your body for enhanced resilience based on the mechanism of your specific pain by following the details. It will help more than just picking up their child.
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