West Des Moines Back Pain-Preventing Lifting Techniques
Lifting an object off the ground seems like a simple task for most people. It is a task we do every day mostly without question. Executive Chiropractic of Iowa hears stories every day about how hard it is to pick something up off the ground or how reaching for a simple pencil up off the ground triggered the worst back pain. Our West Des Moines chiropractic patients share common stories like this! Strengthening the quads with exercise as part of our chiropractic services, and lifting slowly and with a few tips in mind can help minimize stress on the spine.
LIFTING TECHNIQUES
When it comes to posture, lifting is a known 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-studied. Squat lifting seems to be the one most report is optimal. One set of researchers discussed some odd findings though: squat lift training did not prevent low back pain and stoop lifting is not a risk factor for low back pain. How do these two findings reckon with appropriate lifting for back pain prevention and management? They suggested that the lifting posture that is proper for each person must be individualized as each lifting posture has its own biomechanical and kinematic patterns for muscle activation which make particular lifting postures better for particular patients. Researchers described that stoop lifting was more metabolically efficient and less challenging to the cardiopulmonary system. This set of researchers also recommended 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) Executive Chiropractic of Iowa typically looks at each of our West Des Moines chiropractic patients and offers ideas on managing and preventing back pain with exercise and other approaches.
A COUPLE TIPS ON LIFTING
There are a few 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 decreased low back loading during lifting items of 2 to 10 kg. Trunk flexion angles were significantly reduced. Compressive and anterior-posterior shear forces were significantly lower as well compared with unsupported lifting techniques. (2) That is an easy lifting tip we know our West Des Moines 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 created lower total and compressive lumbar loads than squat lifting (except at L5S1 where anterior shear loads were higher) and freestyle lifting. (3) Therefore slow down when lifting. Use your quads to squat lift. (If they are not very strong, Executive Chiropractic of Iowa has some exercises to strength them!)
CONTACT Executive Chiropractic of Iowa
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 issues for which The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management of spinal manipulation contributed to his relief.
Schedule your West Des Moines chiropractic appointment with Executive Chiropractic of Iowa today. When simple tasks like lifting objects off the floor become problematic, know that Executive Chiropractic of Iowa is here to help find a way to make them better and troublefree for you and your spine!
