Burlington and Hamilton Back Pain-Preventing Lifting Techniques

Lifting an object off the ground appears to be a simple task for most people. It’s one we do every day typically without question. Spinal Care Clinic hears stories daily about how difficult it is to pick something up off the ground or how reaching for a simple pencil up off the ground triggered the worst back pain. Our Burlington and Hamilton chiropractic patients share common stories like this! Strengthening the quads with exercise as part of our chiropractic services, and lifting slowly and with a few tips 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 group of researchers discussed some odd findings though: squat lift training didn’t prevent low back pain and stoop lifting is not a risk factor for low back pain. How do these two findings figure into proper lifting for back pain prevention and management? They suggested that the lifting posture that is proper for each person must be individualized as each lifting posture has its own biomechanical and kinematic patterns for muscle activation which make particular lifting postures better for particular patients. Researchers explained that stoop lifting was more metabolically efficient and less challenging to the cardiopulmonary system. This set of researchers further suggested 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) Spinal Care Clinic usually looks at each of our Burlington and Hamilton chiropractic patients and offers ideas on managing and preventing back pain with exercise and other approaches.

A COUPLE TIPS ON LIFTING

There are some methods that may help us all when lifting. A special lifting technique referred to as BATT (a braced arm to thigh, one-handed lifting method to retrieve objects with the dominant hand) substantially decreased low back loading while lifting items of 2 to 10 kg. Trunk flexion angles were significantly reduced. Compressive and anterior-posterior shear forces were significantly lower too compared with unsupported lifting techniques. (2) That is an easy lifting tip we know our Burlington and Hamilton chiropractic clients|we can all do! Lifting slowly is another idea that is said to lower loads on the lumbar spine. Stoop lifting had a greater lumbar spine lordosis range of motion and produced lower total and compressive lumbar loads than squat lifting (except at L5S1 where anterior shear loads were higher) and freestyle lifting. (3) Therefore slow down when lifting. Use your quads to squat lift. (If they are not very strong, Spinal Care Clinic has some exercises to strength them!)

CONTACT Spinal Care Clinic

Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Tyler Lomnicki on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes treatment of a man with a disc herniation among other issues for which The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management of spinal manipulation contributed to his relief. 

Schedule your Burlington and Hamilton chiropractic appointment with Spinal Care Clinic today. When simple tasks like lifting objects off the floor become difficult, know that Spinal Care Clinic is available to help find a way to make them better and easier for you and your spine!