Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC 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 La Grande chiropractic patient with low back pain, you have! You have likely even experienced it personally. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC explains proper lifting techniques with our back pain patients in the beginning of treatment. It’s essential 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 major risk factor for low back pain. The loading may be due to lifting a heavy or light object that triggers La Grande back pain. Much of how the pain comes on is due to how the back muscles act during the lift. Newly designed “exoskeletons” are being tried. They go beyond a back brace but demonstrate 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 lowered by 14%. The researchers are optimistic that such devices could lower the risk of compression-related tissue failure while lifting. (1) For now, Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC focuses on what is available widely today to help our La Grande back pain patients control their back pain once the pain is diminished 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 is not much difference when it comes to how the low back responds during lifting. Crazy! 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 decreased load on the back. The volunteers lifted two types of things - a pencil and a crate - off the floor with researchers noting 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 during lifting may help the low back. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC has some other approaches to limit spinal stress during lifting to control La Grande back pain and its recurrence: support belts to exercise to spinal manipulation to back school. It’s a comprehensive treatment plan you’ll want to embrace!

CONTACT Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC

Listen to the PODCAST with Dr. Matthew Alexander on the Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he shares 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 La Grande chiropractic appointment with Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC. Lifting can stress the low back. Chiropractic care eases the stress on the lumbar spine for back pain relief.  Contact us today!