Vancouver Disc Centers 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 Vancouver chiropractic patient with low back pain, you have! You have likely even experienced it directly. Vancouver Disc Centers describes proper lifting techniques to our back pain patients in the beginning of treatment. It is essential to protect the spine while it heals! New studies report that back supports and even hand support techniques during 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 prompts Vancouver back pain. Much of how the pain comes on is via the response of back  muscles during the lift. Newly designed “exoskeletons” are being tested. They go beyond a back brace but demonstrate some promise in reducing lumbar flexion and decreasing the compressive force on the back by 13-21% while bending. Peak compressive force during lifting was lowered by 14%. The researchers are hopeful that such devices could reduce the risk of compression-related tissue failure during lifting. (1) For now, Vancouver Disc Centers focuses on what is available widely today to help our Vancouver 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 is not much difference when discussing how the low back responds while lifting. Crazy! Researchers wanted to see if the common way 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. Vancouver Disc Centers has some other approaches to limit spinal stress during lifting to control Vancouver back pain and its reappearance: support belts to exercise to spinal manipulation to back school. It is a comprehensive treatment plan you’ll want to embrace!

CONTACT Vancouver Disc Centers

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

Make your next Vancouver chiropractic appointment with Vancouver Disc Centers. Lifting can put stress on the the lumbar spine. Chiropractic care eases the stress on the low back for back pain relief.  Contact us today!