Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries Shares Tips for Lifting Safely to Prevent Back Pain

Have you heard how lifting can be hard on a low back? If you are a Manchester chiropractic patient with low back pain, you have! You have likely even experienced it directly. Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries describes proper lifting techniques with our back pain patients in the beginning of treatment. It is important to protect the spine while it heals! New studies suggest 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 from a heavy or light object that triggers Manchester back pain. Much of how the pain comes on is via the response of back  muscles during the lift. Newly designed “exoskeletons” are being tested. They go beyond a back brace but demonstrate some promise in decreasing lumbar flexion and decreasing the compressive force on the back by 13-21% while bending. Peak compressive force during lifting was reduced by 14%. The researchers are hopeful that such devices could lower the risk of compression-related tissue failure during lifting. (1) For now, Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries focuses on what is available widely today to help our Manchester 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 discussing how the low back responds while lifting. Crazy! Researchers explored how most people pick things up off the floor – with a hand on a thigh for support – made a difference. They proposed that it would result in decreased load on the back. The volunteers lifted two kinds of things - a pencil and a crate - off the floor with researchers noting every move and muscle response. Using a hand on the thigh for support while reaching for the pencil on the floor decreased 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 protect the low back. Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries has some other approaches to limit spinal stress during lifting to control Manchester back pain and its recurrence: support belts to exercise to spinal manipulation to back school. It’s a comprehensive treatment plan you will want to embrace!

CONTACT Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries

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

Schedule your next Manchester chiropractic appointment with Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries. Lifting can stress the lumbar spine. Chiropractic care alleviates the stress on the low back for back pain relief.  Call us today!