Montreal 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 mostly without a second thought. Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic hears stories daily about how difficult it is to pick something up off the ground or how getting a simple pencil up off the ground triggered the worst back pain. Our Montreal 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 suggestions in mind can potentially limit 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 group of researchers discussed some odd findings though: squat lift training did not stop low back pain and stoop lifting isn’t a risk factor for low back pain. How do these two points reckon with proper lifting for back pain prevention and management? They suggested that the lifting posture right for each person must be personalized as each lifting posture has 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 further suggested working with each individual patient on the proper lifting technique suitable for his/her body and lifting situation following the “calm tissue down, build tissue up, improve work capacity” system. (1) Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic typically looks at each of our Montreal chiropractic patients and presents ideas on managing and preventing back pain with exercise and other approaches.

A COUPLE TIPS ON LIFTING

There are some methods that may support us all when lifting. A special lifting trick referred to as BATT (a braced arm to thigh, one-handed lifting method to retrieve objects with the dominant hand) substantially reduced low back loading during 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 Montreal chiropractic clients|we can all do! Lifting slowly is another idea that reportedly lowered loads on the lumbar spinal elements. Stoop lifting had a larger 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 greater) and freestyle lifting. (3) Therefore slow down when lifting. Use your quads to squat lift. (If they’re not very strong, Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic has some exercises to strength them!)

CONTACT Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic

Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Tyler Lomnicki on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he discusses care of a man with a disc herniation among other conditions for which The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management of spinal manipulation assisted in his relief. 

Schedule your Montreal chiropractic appointment with Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic today. When effortless tasks like lifting objects off the floor become troublesome, know that Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic is ready to help find a way to make them better and troublefree for you and your spine!