MOPs & MOEs The Gift of Injury with Brian Carroll
Sep 14, 2025
Brian Carroll, a world-class powerlifter and spine rehabilitation coach, shares his harrowing journey from severe back injury to becoming an advocate for recovery. He discusses the pivotal moments of his rehabilitation, including meeting Dr. Stuart McGill and the importance of tailored assessments. Brian highlights the balance between core endurance and maximal strength and critiques common injury prevention methods. He also delves into the psychology of performance post-injury and reforms needed in the healthcare system for better spine care.
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From 'You're Done' To 1306Lb Squat
- Brian rebuilt his back with Stu McGill and returned to elite powerlifting after being told he was done.
- He later co-wrote The Gift of Injury and used the same methods to set the 1306 lb squat pain-free.
Desensitize Then Gradually Reload
- Desensitize movement first: walk and avoid provoking positions until pain calms.
- Progress with core endurance, carries, and staged barbell loading while using deloads every 3–4 weeks.
Resilience Is Strength-Endurance
- Spinal resilience depends on trunk strength-endurance, not just maximal strength.
- Build durable tension and stiffness across all trunk muscles to tolerate compression and shear.
