Wilson Family Chiropractic Shares Tips for Lifting Safely to Prevent Back Pain

Did you hear how lifting can be hard on a low back? If you are a Millville chiropractic patient with low back pain, you have! You’ve likely even experienced it personally. Wilson Family Chiropractic explains proper lifting techniques with our back pain patients in the beginning of treatment. It is important to keep the spine protected while it heals! New studies report that back supports and even hand support techniques while lifting can help.

MECHANICAL LOADING DURING LIFTING

Mechanical loading is a key risk factor for low back pain. The loading may be due to lifting a heavy or light object that prompts Millville back pain. Much of how the pain comes on is due to how the back muscles act during the lift. Newly designed “exoskeletons” are being tested. They go beyond a back brace but show some promise in reducing lumbar flexion and lowering the compressive force on the back by 13-21% while bending. Peak compressive force during lifting was reduced by 14%. The researchers are optimistic that such devices could lower the risk of compression-related tissue failure during lifting. (1) For now, Wilson Family Chiropractic focuses on what is available widely today to help our Millville back pain patients control their back pain once the pain is diminished by controlling their spine-related movements.

CHIROPRACTIC LIFTING TIPS

It would seem that there would be a big difference in spine action between picking up a pencil and lifting a crate, but there isn’t much difference when it comes to how the low back responds while lifting. Interesting! Researchers explored how most people pick things up off the floor – with a hand on a thigh for support – made a difference. They thought that it would result in decreased load on the back. The volunteers lifted two types of things - a pencil and a crate - off the floor with researchers logging every move and muscle response. Using a hand on the thigh for support while bending for the pencil on the floor reduced the average peak total stresses by 17 to 25% (depending on the lifting method). Hand support while lifting the crate reduced the peak total stresses by 13-19% for one-handed lifting and 14-26% for two-handed lifting. (2) Hand support while lifting may help the low back. Wilson Family Chiropractic has some other approaches to limit spinal stress during lifting to control Millville back pain and its reappearance: support belts to exercise to spinal manipulation to back school. It is a comprehensive treatment plan you will want to embrace!

CONTACT Wilson Family Chiropractic

Listen to the PODCAST with Dr. Matthew Alexander on the Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he explains the effective, gentle treatment with the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management for his patient with spinal stenosis and low back pain.                                       

Make your next Millville chiropractic appointment with Wilson Family Chiropractic. Lifting can stress the low back. Chiropractic care eases the stress on the lumbar spine for back pain relief.  Call us today!