How to Lift

Stretch slowly, and stop if you experience sharp pain.

Put one knee on the ground, and use your arms and legs to move the object up onto the opposite thigh. Stand up. Never bend at the waist while lifting.

When lifting, maneuver the object close to your body, and use the strength in your legs to get the object off the ground, rather than your low back.

Have you ever heard of anyone straining a thigh muscle while lifting? Probably not. That is because the muscles in the legs are longer, stronger and more resistant to strain. The muscles and ligaments in the back are shorter and prone to muscle spasm.

Start with one knee on the floor, use the strength of your arms to raise the object up onto your mid-thigh, then use the power of your legs to stand up. An alternate method is to bend both knees in a squatting position, grasp the object keeping fingers underneath it, keep your back erect and stand up. In both examples, use your leg muscles, not your back, to generate the lifting force.

About Summit Spinecare | Spine Center approach to back and neck pain | Patient Success Stories | Spine Surgeons: Dr. Paul Hartleben | Dr. Bryan Lynn | Dr. Nicholas Wills | Nonsurgical Spine Physicians: Dr. John Dowdle | Dr. Thomas Cesarz | Dr. Kristen Zeller | Anatomy Library | Back and Neck Pain Prevention | Spine Pain Relief | Symptoms Chart | Educational Resources | How to Lift | Spine Conditions: | Back Pain | Neck Pain | Degenerative Disc | Herniated Disc | Spondylolysis | Spinal Stenosis | Scoliosis | Bone Spur | Spine Tumors | Back and Neck Pain Treatment | Spine Surgery | Contact Summit Spine Care | Woodbury Minnesota Location | Forest Lake Minnesota Location | Hastings Minnesota Location | St Paul Minnesota Location (near Saint Paul Cathedral) | Eagan Minnesota Location

Disclaimer:

The pictures displayed in www.summitspinecare.com are images of physicians, patients and employees who have consented to have their pictures in this website. Content specific to Summit Spinecare is copyright © 2010 Summit Spinecare.

Need more information on back and neck pain? Click here to view resource books on spine problems, what causes back pain, what causes neck pain and when to see the doctor. Educational illustrations and content Copyright © 2009 Prizm Development, Inc. Web design & Copyright 2009 © Prizm Development, Inc. www.prizmdevelopment.com