Lifting is a common motion of the human body…

…that is perhaps one of the most perilous for the back. At our office in Sacramento, we see many people who have injured their back through the seemingly innocuous motion of lifting an object.  Perhaps it is an injury that occurred when they were younger and never healed, or something more recent- the point is that you can avoid a lot of discomfort and potential degeneration of the spine by remembering to lift properly. 

Lifting with your legs, not with the back…What does this really mean? 

Whether it be a cardboard box filled with books or a paper clip, the motion is the same! You can cause injury by quickly reaching down to retrieve a dropped object just as you can cause an injury by attempting to lift something too heavy. Here is a checklist for lifting properly: 

• Keep the object in front of you and bend at your knees into a full squat (even if its a paper clip!)
• Lift the object in toward your chest, keeping your back straightened.
• Tighten the muscles in the lower back, core and buttocks which will effectively lock your back into position, preventing strain of the tissues. 
• Generating power from the legs, stand straight up. 

Lifting is a textbook example of body mechanics

Done properly, a lift should cause no damage; done incorrectly, any multitude of injuries could occur. And chances are pain will strike when you are least expecting it. Lifting correctly is about being conscientious and taking the time to keep yourself from incurring injury. At Espinosa Family Chiropractic, we have nothing but time for you and your body mechanics! Give us a call and schedule an appointment so we can start changing the way you feel today. 

Dr. Raymond Espinosa, D.C.