Groton Back Pain-Preventing Lifting Techniques

Lifting an object off the ground seems like a simple task for most folks. It’s one we do every day typically without question. Clients at Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office share these kinds of stories every day about how hard it is to pick something up off the ground or how getting a simple pencil up off the ground precipitated the worst back pain. Our Groton 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-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 isn’t a risk factor for low back pain. How do these two points reckon with appropriate lifting for back pain prevention and management? They proposed that the lifting posture right 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 further suggested working with each individual client 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) Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office typically looks at each of our Groton chiropractic patients and offers ideas on managing and preventing back pain with exercise and other approaches.

A COUPLE TIPS ON LIFTING

There are some tips-and-tricks that may help us all when lifting. A special lifting trick 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 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 contrasted with unsupported lifting techniques. (2) That is an easy lifting tip we know our Groton 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 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’re not very strong, Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office has some exercises to strength them!)

CONTACT Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office

Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Tyler Lomnicki on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he discusses treatment 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 Groton chiropractic appointment with Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office today. When simple tasks like lifting objects off the floor become troublesome, know that Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office is here to help find a way to make them better and troublefree for you and your spine!