Auburn Back Pain-Preventing Lifting Techniques
Lifting an object off the ground appears to be a simple task for most people. It’s one we do every day typically without hesitation. Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. hears stories daily about how difficult it is to pick something up off the ground or how picking up a simple pencil up off the ground triggered the worst back pain. Our Auburn chiropractic patients tell us stories like this! Strengthening the quads with exercise as part of our chiropractic services, and lifting slowly and with a few hints in mind can potentially limit stress on the spine.
LIFTING TECHNIQUES
When it comes to posture, lifting is a notorious risk factor for low back pain. Lifting techniques like the stoop/lifting with the back, squat/lifting with the legs, and semi-squat/a mix of the other two are well-documented. Squat lifting seems to be the one most report is optimal. One set of researchers discussed some odd findings though: squat lift training did not prevent low back pain and stoop lifting isn’t a risk factor for low back pain. How do these two points figure into suitable lifting for back pain prevention and management? They suggested that the lifting posture that is proper for each person must be individualized as each lifting posture offers its own biomechanical and kinematic patterns for muscle activation which make particular lifting postures better for particular patients. Researchers described that stoop lifting was more metabolically efficient and less challenging to the cardiopulmonary system. This set of researchers further suggested working with each individual patient on the proper lifting technique suitable for his/her body and lifting situation using the “calm tissue down, build tissue up, improve work capacity” system. (1) Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. typically looks at each of our Auburn chiropractic patients and presents ideas on managing and preventing back pain with exercise and other approaches.
A COUPLE TIPS ON LIFTING
There are a few tips-and-tricks that may support us all when lifting. A special lifting trick known as BATT (a braced arm to thigh, one-handed lifting method to pick up objects with the dominant hand) substantially reduced low back loading during lifting items of 2 to 10 kg. Trunk flexion angles were significantly reduced. Compressive and anterior-posterior shear forces were significantly lower too contrasted with unsupported lifting techniques. (2) That is a simple lifting tip we know our Auburn chiropractic clients|we can all do! Another is lift slowly which is said to lower loads on the lumbar spine. Stoop lifting had a greater lumbar spine lordosis range of motion and created lower total and compressive lumbar loads than squat lifting (except at L5S1 where anterior shear loads were higher) and freestyle lifting. (3) Therefore slow down when lifting. Use your quads to squat lift. (If they’re not very strong, let’s talk about strengthening them!)
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Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Tyler Lomnicki on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he discusses treatment of a man with a disc herniation among other conditions for which The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management of spinal manipulation contributed to his relief.
Schedule your Auburn chiropractic appointment with Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. today. When effortless tasks like lifting objects off the floor become difficult, know that Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. is here to help find a way to make them better and easier for you and your spine!
