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Ashburn Back Pain-Preventing Lifting Techniques

Lifting an object off the ground seems like a simple task for most people. It is one we do every day mostly without a second thought. Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn hears stories daily about how hard it is to pick something up off the ground or how picking up a simple pencil up off the ground triggered the worst back pain. Our Ashburn 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 tips in mind can help minimize stress on the low back.

LIFTING TECHNIQUES

When it comes to posture, lifting is a notorious 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 stated 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 suitable lifting for back pain prevention and management? They proposed that the lifting posture right for each person must be personalized as each lifting posture offers 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 also suggested working with each individual client on the proper lifting technique appropriate for his/her body and lifting situation following the “calm tissue down, build tissue up, improve work capacity” system. (1) Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn typically looks at each of our Ashburn 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 techniques that may help us all when lifting. A special lifting technique known as BATT (a braced arm to thigh, one-handed lifting method to pick up objects with the dominant hand) substantially decreased low back loading while lifting items of 2 to 10 kg. Trunk flexion angles were significantly decreased. 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 Ashburn chiropractic clients|we can all do! Another is lift slowly which is said to lower loads on the lumbar spine. Stoop lifting had a greater 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, let’s talk about strengthening them!)

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Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Tyler Lomnicki on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes care 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 Ashburn chiropractic appointment with Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn today. When simple tasks like lifting objects off the floor become troublesome, know that Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn is available to help find a way to make them better and easier for you and your spine!

 
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"This information and website content is not intended to diagnose, guarantee results, or recommend specific treatment or activity. It is designed to educate and inform only. Please consult your physician for a thorough examination leading to a diagnosis and well-planned treatment strategy. See more details on the DISCLAIMER page. Content is reviewed by Dr. James M. Cox I."