Hollstrom & Associates Inc 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 Largo chiropractic patient with low back pain, you have! You’ve likely even experienced it directly. Hollstrom & Associates Inc explains proper lifting techniques with our back pain patients early on in treatment. It is important to keep the spine protected 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 due to lifting a heavy or light object that triggers Largo back pain. Much of how the pain comes on is via the response of back  muscles during the lift. Newly designed “exoskeletons” are being explored. They go beyond a back brace but show some promise in decreasing lumbar flexion and decreasing the compressive force on the back by 13-21% while bending. Peak compressive force during lifting was reduced by 14%. The researchers are optimistic that such devices could reduce the risk of compression-related tissue failure while lifting. (1) For now, Hollstrom & Associates Inc focuses on what’s accessible today to help our Largo 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 big 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 during 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 result in 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. Using a hand on the thigh for support while reaching for the pencil on the floor 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 while lifting may help the low back. Hollstrom & Associates Inc has some other ways to limit lifting stresses on the spine to control Largo back pain and its recurrence: support belts to exercise to spinal manipulation to back school. It is a comprehensive treatment plan you will want to embrace!

CONTACT Hollstrom & Associates Inc

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 Largo chiropractic appointment with Hollstrom & Associates Inc. Lifting can stress the low back. Chiropractic care eases the stress on the low back for back pain relief.  Call us today!