Posts
Avoiding Lower Back Pain With The Correct Lifting Technique
Many times patients arrive at my chiropractic office in Springfield, VA with lower back pain that presented after lifting a heavy object. Using incorrect lifting techniques could cause injury resulting in sudden and severe pain. Without any doubt, this sort of injury can nearly always be forestalled if proper lifting techniques had been used.
Unless your kind of work requires lots of lifting such as nursing, warehouse work, retail stocking, etc. It is entirely possible that you have not had the opportunity to learn the way to lift objects in a way that will shield your back. Hopefully, if you are in a line of business in which a lot of lifting is needed, you've been trained on how to defend your back when lifting. For the rest of you, this newsletter will explain the correct way to lift heavy objects to avoid injury.
Never bend over at the waist to lift something; in fact you need to make it a habit not to bend over at the waist at all because this may put unnecessary force on your lower back. Reduce the risk of injury and damage using the following lifting technique:
Straight before you lift and shortly after you are done lifting you want to stand upright and bend backward 5 - 6 times. This makes sure that any distortion in the curve of your lumbar region is worked out.
Stand close to the object you are going to lift. Do not have your feet together; use a broader position for balance and support.
Bend at the knees, keeping your back straight, till you can comfortably get your hands under the object.
Keep the object as close to your body as you can so you are not extending your reach. Extending your reach will put a little pressure onto your back even if you're bent at the knees.
Lean back barely, this'll help with your balance. Straighten up using the muscles in your legs to lift yourself up and using a smooth, steady motion.
If the object is really heavy, lift it to your knees and rest it there before straightening up.
To turn with the load in your arms, use your feet. Put simply, don't twist your body.
Of special concern to me are people who have already developed repeating back Problems. It is my practice to always advise these patients to seek help when lifting. I'm completely aware that this is not always attainable. If this is the argument for you, it is even more important that you develop a proper lifting technique.
In addition to employing a proper lifting technique, it's also important to work on your core muscles like your abdominals and gluteals to develop a robust lower back. Consciously implementing this type of lifting methodology and developing a strong core has the potential to make a pronounced difference in your life particularly if you have persistent lower back pain.
Unless your kind of work requires lots of lifting such as nursing, warehouse work, retail stocking, etc. It is entirely possible that you have not had the opportunity to learn the way to lift objects in a way that will shield your back. Hopefully, if you are in a line of business in which a lot of lifting is needed, you've been trained on how to defend your back when lifting. For the rest of you, this newsletter will explain the correct way to lift heavy objects to avoid injury.
Never bend over at the waist to lift something; in fact you need to make it a habit not to bend over at the waist at all because this may put unnecessary force on your lower back. Reduce the risk of injury and damage using the following lifting technique:
Straight before you lift and shortly after you are done lifting you want to stand upright and bend backward 5 - 6 times. This makes sure that any distortion in the curve of your lumbar region is worked out.
Stand close to the object you are going to lift. Do not have your feet together; use a broader position for balance and support.
Bend at the knees, keeping your back straight, till you can comfortably get your hands under the object.
Keep the object as close to your body as you can so you are not extending your reach. Extending your reach will put a little pressure onto your back even if you're bent at the knees.
Lean back barely, this'll help with your balance. Straighten up using the muscles in your legs to lift yourself up and using a smooth, steady motion.
If the object is really heavy, lift it to your knees and rest it there before straightening up.
To turn with the load in your arms, use your feet. Put simply, don't twist your body.
Of special concern to me are people who have already developed repeating back Problems. It is my practice to always advise these patients to seek help when lifting. I'm completely aware that this is not always attainable. If this is the argument for you, it is even more important that you develop a proper lifting technique.
In addition to employing a proper lifting technique, it's also important to work on your core muscles like your abdominals and gluteals to develop a robust lower back. Consciously implementing this type of lifting methodology and developing a strong core has the potential to make a pronounced difference in your life particularly if you have persistent lower back pain.
About the Author:
Dr. Todd P. Sullivan is a Chiropractor in Springfield, VA. He's a guru in treating back injuries. His website provides handy info on how to prevent and treat injuries to your back.
0 comments:
Post a Comment