There are very few absolutes in the world of performance and nutrition. The most universally hated phrase (“well, it depends…”) is also almost always the most truthful answer, much to the frustration of the person asking the question! There is one study however, that shows without doubt exactly how much having a good coach changes an athlete or soldier’s ability to perform and resist injury.  I want to cover it today because it’s so crucial. It was written by a fantastic research team, including possibly the world’s foremost spine and back pain researcher Dr. Stuart McGill, who I count as a mentor. Given the high incidence of back pain in the military, this is especially important. Stu is an amazing person, and I’ve learned more from him than I could possibly put into words. He is also an extremely rigorous scientist, and I love this study because it shows. Designing