Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka 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 Sitka chiropractic patient with low back pain, you have! You’ve likely even experienced it personally. Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka describes proper lifting techniques to 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 key risk factor for low back pain. The loading may be from a heavy or light object that triggers Sitka back pain. Much of how the pain comes on is due to how the back muscles act during the lift. Newly designed “exoskeletons” are being tried. 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 lowered by 14%. The researchers are optimistic that such devices could reduce the risk of compression-related tissue failure while lifting. (1) For now, Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka focuses on what’s available widely today to help our Sitka back pain patients control their back pain once the pain is lessened 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 is not much difference when it comes to how the low back responds during 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 lead to 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 during lifting may help the low back. Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka has some other ways to limit spinal stress during lifting to control Sitka back pain and its reappearance: support belts to exercise to spinal manipulation to back school. It’s a comprehensive treatment plan you will want to embrace!
CONTACT Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka
Listen to the PODCAST with Dr. Matthew Alexander on the Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he explains the effectiveness and gentleness of the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management for his patient with spinal stenosis and low back pain.
Make your next Sitka chiropractic appointment with Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka. Lifting can put stress on the the lumbar spine. Chiropractic care eases the stress on the lumbar spine for back pain relief. Contact us today!
