Layden Chiropractic 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 Plainville chiropractic patient with low back pain, you have! You’ve likely even experienced it personally. Layden Chiropractic describes proper lifting techniques with our back pain patients early on in treatment. It’s 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 major risk factor for low back pain. The loading may be from a heavy or light object that triggers Plainville back pain. Much of how the pain comes on is via the response of back  muscles during the lift. Newly designed “exoskeletons” are being explored. They go beyond a back brace but demonstrate 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 while lifting. (1) For now, Layden Chiropractic focuses on what is available widely today to help our Plainville 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. 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 lead to reduced 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. Getting the pencil with a hand on a thigh for support while bending over 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 during lifting may help the low back. Layden Chiropractic has some other approaches to limit spinal stress during lifting to control Plainville back pain and its recurrence: support belts to exercise to spinal manipulation to back school. It’s a comprehensive treatment plan you’ll want to embrace!

CONTACT Layden Chiropractic

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

Schedule your next Plainville chiropractic appointment with Layden Chiropractic. Lifting can stress the lumbar spine. Chiropractic care eases the stress on the low back for back pain relief.  Contact us today!