McGill Method Certified Practitioner | In-Person McGill Assessment at PRS HQ
Are you struggling with chronic back pain and feeling frustrated by treatments that haven’t worked for you? Have you tried physical therapy, medications, or even surgery, only to find temporary relief or no improvement at all? You are not alone. A McGill Method 3-Hour Assessment is the most comprehensive, science-backed evaluation available, designed to pinpoint the true cause of your pain and create a structured, step-by-step recovery plan.
Unlike standard consultations, this assessment includes:
✔️ A full movement and biomechanical evaluation based on the McGill Method to identify pain generators
✔️ A personalized recovery plan tailored to your needs and daily activities
✔️ A detailed written report ($499 value) outlining your assessment findings, pain triggers, and long-term strategy (not included in standard consultations)
✔️ A scheduled virtual follow-up consultation ($149 value) to monitor progress and adjust your plan as needed (also not included in standard consultations)
Whether you’re an athlete (Runner, Swimmer, Football, Baseball, Pickleball, Tennis, Biking, Motocross, Golf, Bodybuilding, Powerlifting, Weightlifting, Squash), a military member, or someone who simply wants to walk, work, and live pain-free again, this assessment provides deep insights and a clear plan forward—so you don’t have to guess your way to recovery.
Maybe you’re a father who just wants to pick up his child without pain, a mother who dreams of playing with her kids without discomfort, or someone tired of avoiding activities you once loved. No matter your background, this comprehensive assessment is the first step toward reclaiming your life.
Brian’s Recommendations
1️⃣ Begin by reading Back Mechanic and Gift of Injury. The video-enhanced version of Back Mechanic is especially helpful for visual learners, guiding you to understand and self-assess your pain triggers while establishing a solid foundation for pain-free activities. This method has helped 95% of patients avoid surgery, offering a sense of hope and empowerment. Gift of Injury further inspires by sharing stories of overcoming severe back injuries and returning to the sports or goals that matter most to you—much like Brian Carroll did in 2013.
2️⃣ Prepare yourself for a different approach. Most likely, you have tried traditional approaches, so with the McGill Method we have to be much more targeted, this is why we need to spend time together, and the McGill Method assessments last 3hr or longer when working on progressions, and Brian does these on Monday-Friday.
🔹Brian will work during the weekend when possible. If you have any questions, or concerns, or need after-hours care and consulting, please visit the FAQ page, and click the red “Contact Brian” button. He truly cares about your well-being and will do his utmost to meet your needs. Remember, you don’t have to face this journey alone; support is available to help you find relief.*
What does an In-Person 3-Hr McGill Assessment consist of?
The McGill Method 3-Hour Assessment follows a structured process designed to identify your pain generatorsand create a personalized recovery strategy.
1️⃣ Your Story & Background
✔️ Understanding your injury history, previous treatments, and daily activities
✔️ Identifying patterns that contribute to pain and factors that may have been overlooked
2️⃣ Physical Assessment
✔️ Comprehensive movement analysis and posture evaluation
✔️ Testing responses to different types of load (flexion, compression, extension, shear, etc.)
✔️ Identifying pain triggers and movements that relieve discomfort
3️⃣ Exercise & Movement Coaching
✔️ Learning how to move safely to avoid pain triggers
✔️ Developing pain-free capacity to rebuild strength and mobility
4️⃣ Summary & Prognosis
✔️ Explanation of findings and the mechanical cause of your pain
✔️ Understanding how your activities impact your pain and recovery
5️⃣ Custom Recovery Plan & Prognosis Report ($499 value)
✔️ A detailed, written report outlining findings, pain triggers, and your personalized recovery strategy
✔️ Step-by-step guidance on exercises and strategies for long-term relief
6️⃣ Education & Guidance
✔️ Strategies to protect your spine and avoid pain triggers in everyday life
✔️ Understanding the importance of proper movement techniques
7️⃣ Follow-Up & Progress Review ($149 value)
✔️ Includes a scheduled virtual follow-up consultation to review progress and make necessary adjustments
✔️ Additional follow-ups can be booked separately
Booking Your McGill Method 3-Hour Assessment
🔺 The McGill Assessment is approximately 3-4hrs and time will vary per client and injury history. If you have any questions regarding assessment time, the additional time charges, etc., please let us know when booking. Click here for more info!
📍 Location: Power Rack Strength HQ, 1302 Eastport Road Unit B, Jacksonville, FL 32218
🕑 Hours of Operation:
Monday-Friday 8 AM – 6 PM
Closed Saturday-Sunday
(After-hours bookings may be available upon booking)
💰 Pricing:
✔️ Flat Rate: $1499 (includes assessment, written report, and follow-up virtual consultation)
✔️ $499 Deposit Due Upfront to confirm your appointment
✔️ Extra Time (if required): $449 per hour
✔️ Lift Progression Coaching Add-On: $349 per hour
✔️ After-Hours Booking Fee: Additional $100 per hr
🔹 A deposit is required upon booking. If you are booking a 2-day visit, there will be a deposit price for both days. This deposit will be subtracted from your remaining balance.
💳 Payment Options:
✔️ Venmo
✔️ Zelle
✔️ Cash
✔️ Check
✔️ PayPal*
* An additional 3% transaction fee will be added to all payments from PalPal
🔹 Have an HSA? Ask about the possibility of using your HSA at the time of booking.
📅 To schedule your assessment, click the button below and fill out the 3-Hr McGill Assessment Interest Form.
📍PRS HQ
What is The McGill Method?
The McGill Method is a scientifically proven system for assessing, treating, and preventing back pain, developed by world-renowned spine expert, Professor Stuart McGill. With over 32 years of research and more than 250 published studies on the lumbar spine, Dr. McGill has transformed the way back pain is understood and treated—both in clinical settings and among elite athletes.
This method is not a one-size-fits-all approach but instead focuses on:
✔️ Identifying the precise cause of pain rather than just treating symptoms
✔️ Developing personalized movement and recovery strategies
✔️ Strengthening the spine safely and effectively
✔️ Helping individuals eliminate pain for good—even those who have failed with traditional treatments
Over the decades, thousands of people worldwide—from everyday individuals to world-class athletes—have successfully used the McGill Method to rebuild strength, regain mobility, and return to peak performance. Whether you’re looking to get back to normal life or compete at the highest levels, this method provides the roadmap to pain-free movement and long-term resilience.
What is a McGill Practitioner?
A McGill Method Certified Practitioner is a highly trained specialist in low back pain assessment, injury prevention, and performance optimization. These practitioners are skilled in identifying pain triggers, prescribing targeted therapeutic exercises, and developing personalized recovery strategies based on the scientific principles of the McGill Method.
As a McGill Certified Practitioner, Brian Carroll has undergone extensive training to help clients:
✔️ Reduce the risk of disabling low back pain and injury
✔️ Optimize health outcomes through precise movement strategies
✔️ Enhance performance by improving spinal resilience and movement mechanics
✔️ Develop custom recovery plans based on detailed movement assessments
During a McGill Method assessment, clients undergo a thorough interview and physical evaluation to identify their specific pain triggers. The findings are carefully documented, allowing Brian to:
✔️ Explain the mechanical cause of pain or dysfunction
✔️ Provide a detailed strategy to eliminate pain by avoiding harmful movements
✔️ Create a step-by-step therapeutic program aligned with the client’s goals
By following this proven, research-backed system, clients gain a clear understanding of their condition and a structured roadmap toward long-term relief and performance improvement.
Click image for larger view.
2hr In person one-on-one coaching with Brian Carroll
Location: PRS HQ Jax, FL
$499.99 USD
Anyone looking for hands-on coaching for the big-3 lifts, program design, exercise execution, programming progressions, form checks, etc. I do it all but in a minimum of 120min blocks.
BACK PAIN TESTIMONIALS
My session with Brian Carroll was the most robust and diligent assessment I have had in nearly a 18 mo-2 year battle of symptoms, pain, and utter frustration. I was extremely fortunate to have Dr. Stuart Mcgill there as well. However, both Dr. Mcgill and Brian went above and beyond what I expected in assessment and availability to help me better understand what was going on. Even on follow up calls, emails, and questions Brian is helpful, kind, considerate, and most of all compassionate. He has a true compassion, gift, and drive to help people in tough situations 1. overcome them 2. refind parts of themselves that pain and symptoms have robbed them from. Most importantly he listened to me as a human in need and gave me hope. He and Dr. Mcgill were hands down the best to work with and is honest about expectations and recovery protocols. Although I am in my infancy of beginning to recover properly and by no means out of the woods as my injury has many components that drive intensity and emotionality invested in it, Brian and Dr. Mcgill reminded me before I left (maybe it was words or actions or a combination of both) that I was going to be ok. Stay the course, trust the process, move well, and most of all never give up hope.
Brian Carroll’s PowerRackStrength (PRS) Testimonial: Taking Cody from crippling back pain back to squatting 600+ pounds! Back pain doesn’t need to be the end of doing what you love! If you are in need of a coach or suffer from low back pain, click the link below to set up an online consultation with me now! View Video Testimonial
In this video, we hear from Mike De la Pava and his journey to recovery from his back injury. Mike discusses the serious effects an injury can have on one's mental health, his struggles, and how he was able to pull through and make his "come back". Lastly, he shares what advice he would give to new lifters. View Video Testimonial
"Brian’s coaching will be a game changer in your life. First off, I will say that anyone who chooses Brian will not only come away with more tools to manage their back injury but will also be a wiser person about their physical health in general. As Brian says, “I would be doing you a disservice if I didn’t tell you this.” He truly wants to help and share his knowledge. He will give you the tools to control your pain and start healing. As someone who had been to countless physical therapists and pain management clinics, Brian was the only one who truly helped me and showed me that there was hope for the future. Thanks Brian"
"Brian went to school with my Dad in the 90s and they are good friends. My entire family has a history of back pain, myself not removed. I am now a senior in high school, playing football pain-free on both sides of the ball, and I hope to play on the next level. Last year, after working with Brian during our initial session, my max bench was around 225; just this weekend, I benched my first 275 lbs! Thank you, Brian!"
"I had the opportunity to work with Brian Carrolll for most of 2023. In 2019, I blew my back out after a deadlift and was in agony. After a trip to the ER and seeing specialists for years, In June of 2023, I saw Brian for an in-person assessment. Brian Carroll is the first person to have ever given me an actual assessment and determined and taught me about the cause or causes of my pain. As I have transitioned back to doing my own training, I am now back to competitive powerlifting and understand my limitations and the traps I fell into setting world records and understand the parameters Brian outlined for me. Brian is one of the best in the field."
"After a serious car accident, I met Brian about 12 years ago. We both worked as massage therapists and I have seen Brian's transition into a back specialist shortly thereafter, but first as someone helping lifters, then gen-pop and athletes all over the world. Brian has taught me a great deal about back pain, and as a Massage Therapist and a Physical Therapist, Brian has helped me with my training and pain, and we have also shared many clients/patients together. Brian offers a unique service for failed back cases; I've sat in on assessments, have helped him with them, and know this is the real deal. I suggest all of my back-pained clients see Brian Carroll in Jacksonville, FL."
"My sports history is one of eclectic taste. At one point in my younger days, I served many masters. I have devoted my life to exploring physically demanding contact sports and some of the most competitive Strength Sports in the world. Kickboxing, rugby, powerlifting, strongman, I did it all. Then, my back failed me, as did so many other people in the medical industry, treating me with cookie-cutter approaches. At first, I was hesitant to work with Brian because I was afraid of letting go of my sport, and I knew the discipline required on this path would be unlike anything I had faced before. I now sit in the driver’s seat of my comeback into Strongman as I seek to return to the national stage, compete at the world level, and fight for the state title. None of these would have been possible without Brian’s calculated training, stern weekly conversations, and what he would call my “Gift of Injury." UPDATE: Six years later, I have competed successfully in strongman, bodybuilding, and highland games while maintaining a pain-free life."
"I was into boxing my whole life. I had to be destroyed physically before I could admit what I was doing wasn't working. My career as a soldier didn't help either. Eventually, the pain ended my career in the army, along with the depression. Before your guidance, I was in constant pain and unable to walk without a cane! 2015-17 shots quit working at all. Horrible pain. Very depressed. Now I walk again, just about every day! I often walk for extended periods over 45 minutes with minimal pain. I also do various exercises, work on ladders, work down low on the ground occasionally, and more. Thank you and McGill for giving me a lot of my life back."
"I tell everyone I can if you have back issues, contact Brian. He does a super thorough assessment with you and understands what your back needs. I was in pain for a few years after two failed surgeries. Since I started working with Brian, my nerve pain has diminished totally, and I feel strong physically. I'm so thankful!"
"Before I met Brian and learned about spine hygiene, I was hunched over my shopping cart and miserable due to back pain. After meeting Brian and following his plan, I am working toward my first 400-lb bench at 50 years young, PAINFREE. "
"I met Brian four years ago during the pandemic when I started having back pain. Brian showed me how to live and not let back pain prevent me from enjoying life. Over the last four years, Brian has continued to coach and consult me with my lifting progressions as we have done a complete rebuild. In 2023, I benched my first 405lb raw with Brian's help. I recently competed in my first powerlifting meet, pulling 550lb! Thank you, Brian! "
"I’m a 50-year-old former powerlifter and strongman competitor. I first hurt my lower back when I was a senior in high school playing baseball. I was trying to beat a throw to first base and felt something pop in my lower back when I stepped on the base. A couple of years ago, I bought Gift of Injury and Back Mechanic and “loosely followed the instructions” and found a little relief, but not enough to matter. In April 2021, I reached out to Brian because I saw a video of him squatting 1306 and thought, how in the world is that possible with the damage I had read about that his back had? After our phone consultation, he had me doing big 3 two times a day and religiously walking three times a day, along with telling me I had to change my movement patterns, stop squatting and deadlifting, and let the pain settle, which was probably the hardest thing I had done in a long time. A few weeks later, I went to Jacksonville, and Brian did a full hands-on assessment and gave me a game plan, which I followed to the letter the best I could. It’s been almost a year, and after continuing to move well and doing the big 3 along with walking, suitcase carries, etc. I honestly have a core of iron. I am back to squatting and deadlifting heavy again with no pain, which is a miracle. Brian’s guidance has changed my life because I just figured that low back pain was what I had to look forward to for the rest of my life. After all, the chiropractor said I had degenerative disk disease, which I’ve learned is not true at all. Thank you so much. Also, I'm already back to walking with the 700-lb yolk, Pulling 600 with no pain whatsoever, and squatting 550lb raw. I can tell you this—I never expected to squat over 500 again or ever be pain-free, for that matter! "
"I had a McGill Assessment done after years of researching/reading/listening as much as possible about the McGill Method. I can only say that everything was as expected! After years of back pain, I never felt like I had real direction in my life on genuinely getting better. Nine months later, I've been able to PREVENT flairs from coming on! It has been a life-changing experience for me. If you ever feel hopeless with back pain, I can't recommend going to see Brian. I've recently started a business to pursue my true passion, and that wouldn't be possible if I had never seen him. I am grateful to have my life and my body back!"
"Brian is extremely professional, and I appreciate his willingness to work with my schedule, be straightforward with me, and, most importantly, not give black-and-white answers. I have come to appreciate the McGill method because while it is based on principles, there is a ton of strategy involved, as all of us have our own pain triggers we have to work around with jobs, training, and our daily lives. Brian covers this in our sessions. I know that I am still in the early stages of rebuilding my back and have not healed, but I 100% believe in the McGill Method and Brian's professional guidance. Update edit* I am back to lifting; squatting and deadlifting are pain-free!"
"It was about a year ago on a cold morning when my back pain started to go off the rails after "tweaking" my back on a heavy set of squats. I was frustrated and could not understand what I had been doing wrong, so I reached out to Brian. I was familiar with his books and the work he had done with Dr. Stuart McGill, and I knew I needed a professional's guidance. Brian and I had a few virtual sessions where he outlined an excellent plan to get out of pain. Once the pain had mostly subsided, I decided to have an in-person session with Brian, where he gave me a full assessment and outlined a plan for rebuilding what I had broken. I've not had a relapse in back pain since, and I owe it all to Brian's coaching and guidance. If you're considering reaching out to him, do it. You won't regret it! Update Edit* I am back to lifting pain-free."
"Brian’s coaching will be a game-changer in your life. First off, I will say that anyone who chooses Brian will not only come away with more tools to manage their injury but will also be a wiser person about their physical health in general. As Brian says, “I would be doing you a disservice if I didn’t tell you this.” He truly just wants to help and share his knowledge. He will give you the tools to control your pain and start healing. As someone who had been to countless physical therapists and pain management clinics, Brian was the only one who indeed helped me and showed me that there was hope for the future. Thanks, Brian!"
"At first, I just watched Brian's (beneficial) YouTube videos, but I decided to take the plunge and hire him to coach me. It was the BEST decision. I zoom with him every couple of weeks for a half an hour. He has created a personalized PT program for me that is evolving as I heal. He has also coached me through big life changes that involve sitting and using my back more than usual--recently, I moved states, AND my husband had a big hip surgery. Thanks to Brian, I've been able to tackle those challenges while preserving the healing gains I've made to my back. I cannot say enough good things about him. I have been to many doctors and physical therapists, and none of them have been able to provide me with a sensible, step-by-step plan to help me heal my back. Thankfully, Brian has!! I highly recommend his coaching!!!"
"I have been working with Brian for about a year now. I’ve had daily back pain with two herniated discs for several years, and about 3 to 4 times a year, I would pull my back out and be down for three or four days. I started working with Brian and read his book Gift of Injury. Within a couple of weeks of following Brian’s instructions on daily movements and doing the exercises he instructed me to do, I was almost pain-free. After a couple of months, I was pain-free with just a little pain in the mornings. Working with Brian has completely changed my outlook about my back. I pretty much just convinced myself that I would not be able to function or do things I used to be able to do anymore because of my back issues. Now I am confident that as long as I continue to follow Brian‘s instructions and training I will not be hindered from doing certain things because of my back."
"Brian gave me a lot of inner strength during my rehab. He coached me towards perfecting my McGill-3 and taking other precautions to stop "picking the scab," so my lower back and neck could heal. As a result, I can start my body-building journey—my best days are ahead of me."
"The words Thank You do not say enough for an excellent training experience! Your professionalism and passion are extraordinary. As a former powerlifter and having my son, a collegiate powerlifter, training with you was an enriching experience. We were genuinely impressed with your ability to translate all your years of technical expertise on the lifts into an understandable and immediately usable application. Your coaching enabled my son to easily set two new PRs, each of 50+ pounds, during our incredible time together! Thank you for your valuable insights and advice on nutrition, recovery, and back rehabilitation. Your “10/20/Life” principles and “Gift of Injury” have enabled me to resume Powerlifting after thinking all was lost after nearly 25 years. Your techniques and coaching have allowed me to deadlift again and squat while maintaining a healthy and resilient back. Lastly, thank you for giving back to the Powerlifting community. My son and I feel blessed to have met such a knowledgeable, passionate, and approachable person. We look forward to continuing our training together. You are one of a kind, my man!"
Brian saved my writing career by helping me overcome chronic back pain after all other options had failed. His holistic approach also helped me with the psychological and mindset issues that come with back pain. He’s a master at his craft and pays attention to the slightest details that become leverage points to progress and sustainability. He also got me back to cycling, which I thought impossible. Above all, he’s an all-around great person and a pleasure to work with.
I've been working on my back injury with Brian since December 2023, and I must admit I never felt my back as good as I do now. I actually traveled to Florida for an in-person assessment and so far we've kept working online.. I'm basically pain free on a daily basis, although I know I might/might not even be half way through 100% recovery, results have been tremendous so far. Brian is very knowledgeable on this matter, and he will guide you and answer every question with precise details of the why, when, and how of things... I can't imagine what it is for me in the following months if I'm already feeling amazing five months into rehab... For all backpained people worldwide, if you are genuinely into getting healed, you must understand that any sacrifice is worth doing... You will have to do it sooner or later; the sooner, the better. I couldn't be more grateful to Brian for these first five months in my back rehab. I want to mention that I'm a competitive powerlifter, strongman, and martial artist. I can't wait for what's coming in the following months for my back!
Brian has been great. I wish I had seen him sooner; we may have been able to prevent things from getting worse. After following him and Stu for several years, I finally did a virtual consult with him this year and made a trip to Jacksonville for the in-person assessment. He was a pleasure to work with and treated my wife well. He has also been very generous with his time, and I appreciate how he included my wife in the process. I will be having surgery soon and will continue to work with Brian through my recovery.
Brian offered what the literature and papers could not: feedback. Brian improved and tailored the program I had started on my own (after reading the two books) by modifying the rep schemes, exercise frequencies and selection, workout timings, etc. Additionally, although we only met virtually, he was able to coach me on the big 3 and some other movements to ensure proper execution. Having someone listen to your story, provide feedback on current progress, and share personal experiences with similar troubles/successes proved vital to my recovery. Not many people can relate to the kind of debilitating back injury that I, and others, have had to face and overcome, but Brian is one of the few who can. Although I am not (yet) at 100%, my progress trend over time has been positively linear and I am confident that I will come back stronger than before.
During jujitsu training, I injured my lower back (severe L4/L5 herniation). As a member of the US military special operations community, I got advice from medical support personnel familiar with acute athletic injuries who suggested sports physical therapy. After 2-3 weeks of conventional sports therapy, the back pain began to radiate into my glute, hip flexor, and quadriceps, and I noticed pronounced atrophy of the mid quad. Not only was i not getting better but I was getting worse. After a few minutes online with Brian, I knew I was in good hands with someone who understood my mindset and how to deal with athletes, and I immediately decided to fly down to Florida. Brian's demeanor and professionalism assured me I was in the right place. He took his time and answered every question I had. I was able to get out of pain and become functional again. Most helpful was Brian explaining to me that each case was unique and that recovery is not linear. He made me understand it takes time and not to rush into failure or reinjury, which I had done so many times in the past. I am now mission-ready, have been recently promoted, and made it through yet another selection at 57 years old!
I’m a police officer, and your book, Gift Of Injury, saved my life. I’m 42 now; I had lower back issues in my late 20s from heavy lifting and wrestling… I overcame that and always made warm-up, movement prep, stretching, etc, a big priority. Then, right around the time I hit 40, I had the standard L5 S1 back pain that took its toll on my training and daily life. I’m a police officer in our emergency service unit (SWAT/HEAVY RESCUE) and a dad of two young, very active, athletic boys, so the pain, lack of movement, and explosiveness became a total mind f@&k... All of the epidurals, movement research, and decompression didn’t work. I got a hold of your book, thoroughly read it, and practiced it all. It was life-changing. I have zero pain and can move, explode, squat/deadlift, and wrestle! Anyone currently with lower back pain or who doesn’t even want to go down that road of debilitating back issues should read and study this book. Any athlete or person on a regular fitness/strength training routine will benefit from this material. This book is the real deal, legit, easy to follow, and couldn’t be any more genuine coming from someone of your immense accomplishments. Thank you,
"When I got injured, I wanted to work with someone who has had a similar experience. Someone who would understand wanting not only pain relief but also recovery and better resilience after the injury. In less than nine months, I was able almost to eliminate all pain and discomfort in regular life. I'm steadily progressing in training, and my back is getting stronger. My recovery has gone very well under Brian's guidance. Brian listens to feedback and applies his knowledge of my unique and specific injury and life. I would recommend Brian to anyone looking for help with back pain, especially those who want to be proactive in their recovery."
“Just as the pandemic hit, a lingering back injury hit an all-time high and there was really no escaping it. I purchased “Gift of Injury” and read the entire thing cover to cover in three days. I soon connected with Brian for a consult/assessment and he immediately offered 1:1 support to dive into my specific injury and determine my pain generators. I was extremely grateful for his assessment, help, advice, and guidance during this tough time in my recovery. Despite the time differences and residing in different countries, he stayed in consistent communication with me and asked for frequent updates to ensure I was staying on the right track. At the start of our work together, we started over only walking and doing the big 3, then soon progressed to carries, then goblet squats with a 14kg kettlebell; fast forward a few months – just last weekend I was able to hit near max lifts once again, but PAIN-FREE and with proper lifting mechanics and form cues I learned from Brian while starting over. I am grateful for the learnings I’ve taken from Brian, you can tell his passion is to help others. By bringing his own experiences to his work makes him even more of a unique coach.”
I am on the road back to thriving in life thanks to Brian. After a BJJ incident, I tried everything on my own to fix the issue. I tried for months with NO progress. I was defeated and worried I would never regain my normal life again. I was contemplating giving up BJJ and lifting. I couldn’t squat or deadlift with an empty barbell. Then enters Brian. He has taken the time to LISTEN to my concerns and has prescribed an ever changing plan that has continue to DELIVER results. This journey is not over but I now have hope for a life where I can continue doing the things I love. By listening to Brian’s advice and not deviating from the plan, I am seeing the fruits of my labor. Brian continues to help me become more resilient, not only with my low back but mentally as well. If you are struggling with a low back issue that is interfering with you living a life where you can thrive. Look no further than Brian for a solution that will give you your power back.
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 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.“
Hear What Readers Have To Say About Gift of Injury
“As a doctor working out of Pasadena, I have been studying the work of Professor McGill for the past two years. I can say with the credentials and authority of a medical insider that McGill’s teachings are light years ahead of the conventional medical approach. And I can attest to this effect from my own professional experience in the demanding domains of both pain medicine and occupational medicine. I’m now able to consistently restore bad backs with what I learned from Professor McGill’s books and courses. One intriguing aspect of Professor McGill’s clinical practice is his work with elite athletes with low back pain. Many of these athletes have seen “top” spine specialists around the world and been told they had career ending injuries. They are lost–until they find Professor McGill.
The story of Brian Carroll is one such story. It is the story of an improbable comeback from a devastating spine injury. As a world-record setting lifter, Carroll loaded his spine to extremes that boggle the imagination. When a host of injuries and excessive training and competition broke his spine down, the conventional medical establishment said all that was left for him was surgery, athletic retirement and probable lifelong disability. (For the medically inclined: he had a complete fracture of L5 with a deep split fracture in his sacrum.) The journey from that nadir, with Carroll contemplating suicide after a particularly depressing visit to a back surgeon, to his return to a champion lifter again seems miraculous.
Except it’s not a miracle–it’s what happens when science combined with clinical wisdom meets an athlete who who will not give up on the dream. Professor McGill discusses the scientific principles and specific program he used to restore Carroll to elite form. In these pages you will find a story told in alternate parts by McGill and Carroll. It is part memoir of Carroll, part primer for how the McGill method works, part instructional guide for lifting and spine recovery all told through the prism of one man’s injury. It is a story of ambition, loss, healing, friendship and overcoming the odds to become better than you ever were–after you’ve been left for dead. What is the gift of injury? The possibility of resurrection of not just a spine and a career, but of a man. This masterpiece tells you how.”
— Medical Doctor – Pasadena, CA
“It’s a brilliant, fantastic book, one that should be the standard of the fitness industry! It’s a rare book that honestly confronts, analyzes and fixes the athlete. Oh, sure, you can find books with little band stretches, mobility work and some time in the tub, but Stu McGill and Brian Carroll take us inside both the athlete’s and the therapist’s minds. Section Two alone is a book in itself; it is more of a weekend workshop showing what the best and brightest do in their approach to training.
There are so many insights throughout the book, but this little hint really made me think: Brian walked 15 minutes a day with free swinging arms before every meal as part of his back injury fix. It just struck me that this simple point was the culmination of so many tests, discussions and hands on work…and it is so simple, logical, and practical.”
— Dan John
“This book is a must have for all athletes and coaches alike, the best of its kind.”
— Ryan
“If you have suffered from back pain (as I have) and have begun to give up hope of ever getting out of pain then you MUST read this book. If anything, Brian Carroll’s story will give you hope.
The book if chock full of information and ways to take control of your life, back and pain. It’s especially geared towards the powerlifter, but I suspect most athletes can relate and will benefit from the information contained in this book. This is the kind of book you read and wish someone would have put it into your hands years ago!”
— Dan B.
Claudia is back pain-free and currently training to compete in physique
From Claudia:
“I went to see Brian last July (2021). I was in pain (low back) for almost a year straight. Brian did a thorough assessment to explain how to heal my injury; He also explained the process and the importance of stepping back from lifting. I followed his guidance. For seven months didn’t touch a bar. Then, I did the same exercises for seven months to build a resilient core. Finally, 2.5 months ago, I started to lift again. I could not recommend Brian more. He is super knowledgeable and passionate about helping others. He also has a tremendous understanding of the human body and weightlifting. I am now pain-free and pushing toward competition again! Thank you, Brian!”
Sawyer has returned to lifting back pain and symptom-free.
Sawyer Levy: “I came to Brian about a compression fracture I got on my L3 in late February 2021 due to an accident sustained outside lifting. Reading Brian’s story in Gift of Injury drew me to seek his help. Brian helped me get on the right track with recovery, but the biggest thing was hearing from a powerlifter that had been through this before to stay away from the gym even if I thought I could continue to train. Not just hearing it from the doctor. Brian got me on the right track using the principles of the McGill method, and I am experiencing the benefits of that now. I will continue to work with Brian and recommend any powerlifter, strongman, Olympic lifter, etc., that has a back break or any back injury to do the same. Thank you, Brian.”
