Causes Of Back Pain Lifting
Causes of Back Pain (Lifting)
There are many causes of back pain, in this article I will explain what can
cause your back pain in simple terms which are easy to understand.
Almost 80% of all back pain is attributable to two things:
1. Bad Posture
2. Lifting
In complete contrast to bad posture, which brings about a steady, almost
undetectable (until it arrives) back pain, lifting is mostly a cause of instant back pain.
I say mostly because there can be some delay but the back pain is usually
apparent overnight.
So, what do I mean by lifting?
Well, lifting something heavy, that could be a better description, but it does not cover
all the problems associated with lifting as a cause of back pain.
For example, a lot of back pain is caused by lifting items that are,
relatively light, but very awkward, or so large that you struggle to encompass them
with your arms. Of course, our bodies were designed to lift and carry things, this is part of
our everyday life. The trouble is that most of us abuse this function in one way or
another, and this could be the cause of much of our back pain.
We should look at this objectively and try to observe ourselves in a critical manner.
Every time we are going to attempt to lift something, which comes into any of the two
categories, heavy or awkward, we need to think of the consequences and observe
the following simple rules:
1. Face the item you are going to attempt to lift with your feet about two feet
apart.
2. Squat down on your knees with your back straight.
3. Grasp the item firmly and if it has lifting handles or lifting holes at either
side, use them.
4. Straighten your knees, keeping your back straight and test the weight of the item.
5. If you are sure that you can lift the item (and carry it), lift in a smooth, unhurried way.
6. If you feel that you will struggle to lift the item, get someone to help you.
Consider your back at all times.
It is relatively easy to injure your back, but much more difficult to restore your back to full strength. Once the back has been damaged or strained you are much more likely to suffer from a
repetitive injury.
For awkward items the lifting options are fairly straight forward.
The lifting procedure is the same as for lifting heavy items but other limitations are brought into play.
These include:
1. You cannot see over the top of the item or span with your arms.
These limitations apply even if the item is light and weight is not a problem.
3. Remember that weight is relative, the further apart your arms are, the less weight
you are able to lift.
3. Balance is a critical factor in that, if the item is heavier at one side than the other you will find it difficult to balance it and even more difficult to carry it. You should always lift the item with the heavy side closest to you.
Remember these simple ground rules and you will be much less likely to suffer from back pain through lifting. Always remember that there could be mechanical assistance around to help you.
Mechanical assistance could be anything from a shopping trolley to one of the kids skate boards.
Don’t get a forklift truck if you don’t need one.
Always remember this too. People in general are very responsive and forthcoming with a genuine
need to respond to a request for help. After all if some one asked you for assistance for a few
minutes, how would you respond. “Go to Hell”. I don’t think so.
Ken Trueman is the author of many articles on back pain which you can view at http://www.backagonyonline.com
c.2007 Ken Trueman. All rights reserved. You may reprint this article if you do not the content or links within it.
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