Fort Wayne Back Pain-Preventing Lifting Techniques
Lifting something off the ground seems like a simple task for most folks. It’s one we do every day typically without question. Aaron Chiropractic Clinic hears stories daily about how difficult it is to pick something up off the ground or how getting a simple pencil up off the ground precipitated the worst back pain. Our Fort Wayne 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 help minimize stress on the low back.
LIFTING TECHNIQUES
When it comes to posture, lifting is a known 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-studied. Squat lifting seems to be the one most report is optimal. One set of researchers shared some odd findings though: squat lift training didn’t stop low back pain and stoop lifting is not a risk factor for low back pain. How do these two points contribute to the discussion of suitable lifting for back pain prevention and management? They proposed that the lifting posture right for each person must be individualized as each lifting posture has its own biomechanical and kinematic patterns for muscle activation making certain lifting postures better for certain patients. Researchers described that stoop lifting was more metabolically efficient and less challenging to the cardiopulmonary system. This set of researchers further recommended working with each individual patient on the proper lifting technique suitable for his/her body and lifting situation following the “calm tissue down, build tissue up, improve work capacity” system. (1) Aaron Chiropractic Clinic usually looks at each of our Fort Wayne chiropractic patients and presents ideas on managing and preventing back pain with exercise and other approaches.
A COUPLE TIPS ON LIFTING
There are some 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 retrieve objects with the dominant hand) substantially decreased 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 as well compared with unsupported lifting techniques. (2) That is an easy lifting tip we know our Fort Wayne chiropractic clients|we can all do! Lifting slowly is another idea that is said to lower loads on the lumbar spinal elements. Stoop lifting had a larger 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 greater) and freestyle lifting. (3) So slow down when lifting. Use your quads to squat lift. (If they are not very strong, Aaron Chiropractic Clinic has some exercises to strength them!)
CONTACT Aaron Chiropractic Clinic
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Tyler Lomnicki on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he discusses care 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 Fort Wayne chiropractic appointment with Aaron Chiropractic Clinic today. When simple tasks like lifting objects off the floor become problematic, know that Aaron Chiropractic Clinic is available to help find a way to make them better and easier for you and your spine!
