Executive Chiropractic of Iowa Shares Tips for Lifting Safely to Prevent Back Pain
Did you hear how lifting can be hard on a low back? If you are a West Des Moines chiropractic patient with low back pain, you have! You’ve likely even experienced it directly. Executive Chiropractic of Iowa describes proper lifting techniques to our back pain patients in the beginning of treatment. It’s essential to keep the spine protected while it heals! New studies suggest 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 due to lifting a heavy or light object that triggers West Des Moines 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 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 lower the risk of compression-related tissue failure during lifting. (1) For now, Executive Chiropractic of Iowa focuses on what’s accessible today to help our West Des Moines back pain patients control their back pain once the pain is diminished by controlling their spine-related motions.
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 isn’t much difference when it comes to how the low back responds while 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 reduced load on the back. The volunteers lifted two types of things - a pencil and a crate - off the floor with researchers recording 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 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. Executive Chiropractic of Iowa has some other ways to limit spinal stress during lifting to control West Des Moines back pain and its recurrence: support belts to exercise to spinal manipulation to back school. It’s a comprehensive treatment plan you will want to embrace!
CONTACT Executive Chiropractic of Iowa
Listen to the PODCAST with Dr. Matthew Alexander on the Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes 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 West Des Moines chiropractic appointment with Executive Chiropractic of Iowa. Lifting can stress the low back. Chiropractic care alleviates the stress on the lumbar spine for back pain relief. Call us today!
