Lifting Properly to Avoid Back Pain

Lifting Properly to Avoid Back Pain

Lifting injuries are incredibly common.  Sometimes the pain is instant, sometimes it will take a few days.   If you do hurt yourself, make an appointment right away with a chiropractor (ahem!), the sooner you go the quicker the recovery time!

1) Know what you are picking up.  Know the size, the weight or if objects are going to shift.  You might be in the ideal posture to lift, but it won’t help you if the box is too heavy for you!

2) Know where you are headed.  Do you have to go down stairs or has a path been cleared for you?

3) Start close to the object.  Stand with your feet approximately shoulder width apart.

4)  Bend your legs to grab, not at the back.  When you bend at the waist you put and extraordinary amount of stress on the joints and discs in the lower back.  Also, do not twist!

5)  Prepare yourself.  Tighten your stomach muscles before you lift and keep the box as close to you as possible.  Focus on keeping your back straight and using your legs to do the work

7)  Be smart! Do not carry something that is too heavy for you or awkward in shape.