Spotlight: Back to Living Well

It’s amazing what consistent exercise and education can do for back pain.

That’s the cornerstone of the YMCA’s Back to Living Well program designed in collaboration with McMaster University. 

“It saved my life,” says Sylvie Poulin, a fitness instructor at the Ron Edwards Family YMCA for over 25 years, and a former participant of the Back to Living Well program.

“I’ve got stenosis, scoliosis, a herniated disc, and I was supposed to have a back operation where they were going to put two bars and screws in my back,” she says.

Just weeks before she was set to have the surgery, Sylvie called and said she no longer wanted the operation.

“I started to do physio, [I went to the] chiropractor, I did different exercises, and [I started to feel better],” she says. “When the program came, [I thought] I would like to try it myself, and I can tell everybody that it works.”

Living proof of how Back to Living Well helps those suffering with back pain, Sylvie now teaches the program.

“I do individualized conditioning. So, I take each person, and I make a program for them for their specific needs and challenges.”

“That’s a huge part of the program—self-management,” says Luciana Macedo, associate professor in the school of rehabilitation science at McMaster University.

“It's teaching participants how to take the reins of their back pain and treat it themselves. It's about building that toolkit that will allow you to become more active, or really deal with a flare that may occur,” she says.

With her research focusing on low back pain, Luciana knows how important exercise is to prevent and manage that pain. 

“But what we also know is that people with back pain don’t often engage in physical activity.”

She says the program can be delivered in-person or in a virtual setting and is designed for adults living with all levels of back pain—mild, moderate, or severe.

“The idea behind Back to Living Well is to create an opportunity for people living with back pain to learn how to become more physically active by engaging in a program that is well organized, well managed, and done in a safe environment where they feel like they can build their exercise knowledge over time,” she says.

“It’s a true collaboration; we built it together. I bring the evidence, I bring the knowledge, but the staff at the Y is very knowledgeable in delivering exercise programs for different individuals who are healthy or who have been living with different chronic conditions.”

The 12-week program includes two 45-minute workouts a week—one is a functional group exercise class, while the other is your individualized exercise program. There’s also virtual self-management and education sessions. 

There’s also an opportunity to participate in the McMaster University study looking at how well the program helps those suffering with lower back pain. You can learn more about the study on McMaster’s website or click here to register.

“I’m living proof that [the program] can [help you] get quite well,” says Sylvie. 

#BackToLivingWell #IgnitePotential #ShineOn #TheYSavesLives

Are you living with mild, moderate, or severe back pain? The Y can help you get back to living well. 

Sign up