Nashua Back Pain-Preventing Lifting Techniques

Lifting something off the ground appears to be a simple task for most folks. It’s one we do every day mostly without hesitation. Moriarty Chiropractic hears stories every day about how difficult it is to pick something up off the ground or how getting a simple pencil up off the ground precipitated the worst back pain. Our Nashua chiropractic patients tell us stories like this! Strengthening the quads with exercise as part of our chiropractic services, and lifting slowly and with a few suggestions in mind can potentially limit stress on the low back.

LIFTING TECHNIQUES

When it comes to posture, lifting is a renowned 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-documented. Squat lifting seems to be the one most report is optimal. One set of researchers shared some odd findings though: squat lift training did not stop low back pain and stoop lifting is not a risk factor for low back pain. How do these two points reckon with appropriate lifting for back pain prevention and management? They proposed that the lifting posture that is proper for each person must be individualized as each lifting posture possesses its own biomechanical and kinematic patterns for muscle activation making certain lifting postures better for certain 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 using the “calm tissue down, build tissue up, improve work capacity” system. (1) Moriarty Chiropractic usually looks at each of our Nashua chiropractic patients and offers ideas on managing and preventing back pain with exercise and other approaches.

A COUPLE TIPS ON LIFTING

There are some tips-and-tricks that may support us all when lifting. A special lifting trick referred to as BATT (a braced arm to thigh, one-handed lifting method to retrieve objects with the dominant hand) substantially reduced low back loading during lifting items of 2 to 10 kg. Trunk flexion angles were significantly decreased. Compressive and anterior-posterior shear forces were significantly lower too contrasted with unsupported lifting techniques. (2) That is an easy lifting tip we know our Nashua chiropractic clients|we can all do! Lifting slowly is another idea that is said to lower loads on the lumbar spinal elements. Stoop lifting had a larger 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 greater) and freestyle lifting. (3) So slow down when lifting. Use your quads to squat lift. (If they are not very strong, Moriarty Chiropractic has some exercises to strength them!)

CONTACT Moriarty Chiropractic

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 conditions for which The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management of spinal manipulation contributed to his relief. 

Schedule your Nashua chiropractic appointment with Moriarty Chiropractic today. When effortless tasks like lifting objects off the floor become problematic, know that Moriarty Chiropractic is available to help find a way to make them better and troublefree for you and your spine!