Avoid Backaches With Proper Lifting Technique

For many people, it feels correct to lift heavy things from the ground by bending over, grabbing the object, and then returning to a standing position. This is the wrong way to lift heavy objects. At first, it makes sense because if you are already standing then you’re returning to an upwards stance and it seems like a short movement. In reality, it puts you in danger of a backache and may end with a thrown-out back. Here’s what you need to know about proper lifting.

WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR SPINE WHILE LIFTING?

If you’ve ever seen a strength competition, you’ll notice that the lifters stand in particular ways in order to lift hundreds of pounds. They can do these feats because they have proper lifting technique. As discussed before, if the back becomes curled during a lift, it dramatically increases the chance of injury to the lifter. Rather, you want to stand with your feet apart and back straight, before crouching down, not bending down. The back needs to remain straight for there to be enough support for your spine to complete the movement. By the end of it, you should be standing straight up, displaying proper standing posture and the object should be firmly against your abdomen.

CAN I HURT MYSELF LIFTING WITH A STRAIGHT BACK?

There are always ways that we can hurt ourselves when we lift heavy things. However, by practicing proper lifting strategies, we can significantly cut down on the amount of discomfort and pain caused by bad practice. If we were to put two men into a competition to see which could walk away with a heavier load and less pain, we would find that the straight-back practicing proper technique is able to lift more and remain unharmed.

GET ADJUSTED AT WILLS CHIROPRACTIC

At Wills Chiropractic, we are proud to have served the Rochelle community for years. If you believe that you’ve hurt yourself from lifting improperly, or you would like to learn more about proper lifting technique to prevent backaches and how to improve standing posture, give us a call or contact us via our online form.