Manahawkin Chiropractic Center 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 Manahawkin chiropractic patient with low back pain, you have! You have likely even experienced it directly. Manahawkin Chiropractic Center explains proper lifting techniques to our back pain patients early on in treatment. It’s essential to keep the spine protected while it heals! New studies report that back supports and even hand support techniques during 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 triggers Manahawkin 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 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 reduce the risk of compression-related tissue failure during lifting. (1) For now, Manahawkin Chiropractic Center focuses on what’s accessible today to help our Manahawkin 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 huge 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. 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 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 dropped 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. Manahawkin Chiropractic Center has some other approaches to limit lifting stresses on the spine to control Manahawkin 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 Manahawkin Chiropractic Center

Listen to the PODCAST with Dr. Matthew Alexander on the Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he shares 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 Manahawkin chiropractic appointment with Manahawkin Chiropractic Center. Lifting can put stress on the the low back. Chiropractic care eases the stress on the low back for back pain relief.  Contact us today!