Kettlebell-Swing perhaps should be part of many patients exercise prescription

McGill S, Marshall L J Strength Cond Res Jan;26(1) 2012

McGill and associates examined the Kettlebell swing due to its increasing popularity to determine its viability and impact on muscle activation and spinal compression. It was found the swing creates a hip-hinge squat pattern characterized by rapid muscle activation-relaxation cycles nearly 50% of MVC of the LB extensors and 80% of gluteal (this with a ~32pound KB…which in my experience is not for the faint-of-heart or beginner!). This is in addition to 3200N of spinal compression, which is a fairly high magnitude. They concluded: “KB swings create abdominal muscular pulses together with the muscle bracing giving KB specific training opportunities”. “Some unique loading patterns discovered during the KB swing included the posterior shear of the L4 vertebra on L5, which is opposite in polarity to a traditional lift…thus explaining why many credit KB-swings with restoring their back health and function, although perhaps due to this a few find that they irritate tissues”.