Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn 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 Ashburn chiropractic patient with low back pain, you have! You’ve likely even experienced it directly. Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn describes proper lifting techniques with our back pain patients in the beginning of treatment. It is essential to keep the spine protected while it heals! New studies suggest that back supports and even hand support techniques during lifting can help.

MECHANICAL LOADING DURING LIFTING

Mechanical loading is a major risk factor for low back pain. The loading may be from a heavy or light object that triggers Ashburn 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 demonstrate some promise in reducing lumbar flexion and lowering the compressive force on the back by 13-21% while bending. Peak compressive force during lifting was decreased by 14%. The researchers are optimistic that such devices could lower the risk of compression-related tissue failure while lifting. (1) For now, Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn focuses on what’s available widely today to help our Ashburn 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 big 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 during lifting. Interesting! 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 result in reduced load on the back. The volunteers lifted two types of things - a pencil and a crate - off the floor with researchers logging every move and muscle response. Retrieving the pencil with a hand on a thigh for support while bending over reduced 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 protect the low back. Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn has some other approaches to limit lifting stresses on the spine to control Ashburn back pain and its reappearance: support belts to exercise to spinal manipulation to back school. It is a comprehensive treatment plan you will want to embrace!

CONTACT Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn

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 Ashburn chiropractic appointment with Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn. Lifting can put stress on the the lumbar spine. Chiropractic care alleviates the stress on the lumbar spine for back pain relief.  Call us today!