Have you heard how lifting can be hard on a low back? If you are a Southern New Hampshire chiropractic patient with low back pain, you have! You’ve likely even experienced it directly. New Hampshire Spine and Sport explains proper lifting techniques to our back pain patients in the beginning of treatment. It is important to protect the spine while it heals! New studies suggest that back supports and even hand support techniques while lifting can help.
MECHANICAL LOADING DURING LIFTING
Mechanical loading is a key risk factor for low back pain. The loading may be from a heavy or light object that prompts Southern New Hampshire 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 hopeful that such devices could lower the risk of compression-related tissue failure while lifting. (1) For now, New Hampshire Spine and Sport focuses on what is accessible today to help our Southern New Hampshire back pain patients control their back pain once the pain is lessened 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 discussing how the low back responds during lifting. Interesting! 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 kinds of things - a pencil and a crate - off the floor with researchers logging every move and muscle response. Getting 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 dropped the peak total stresses by 13-19% for one-handed lifting and 14-26% for two-handed lifting. (2) Hand support during lifting may help the low back. New Hampshire Spine and Sport has some other approaches to limit spinal stress during lifting to control Southern New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire Spine and Sport
Listen to the PODCAST with Dr. Matthew Alexander on the Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he shares the effectiveness and gentleness of the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management for his patient with spinal stenosis and low back pain.
Make your next Southern New Hampshire chiropractic appointment with New Hampshire Spine and Sport. Lifting can put stress on the the lumbar spine. Chiropractic care alleviates the stress on the low back for back pain relief. Call us today!