Incorrect Lifting of Heavy Objects

Incorrect Lifting of Heavy Objects

Incorrect Lifting of Heavy Objects

Physical pain is one displeasure that plagues everyone at one time or another. Some pain is caused by careless errors; other pain is forced upon us by unfortunate circumstances. Still other pain is avoidable if people are careful. Back pain in particular afflicts people needlessly. If people are attuned to their bodies' signals, they can prevent serious injury and live a less painful life.

Back pain can be caused by several different mindless actions. Playing sports is an excellent way to exercise the body, but it can also deliver horrifying consequences on backs. My dad and I have both injured our backs playing volleyball. The quick back-bending that occurs when spiking and blocking a volleyball can easily lead to pulled muscles and injured spines. Basketball players and golf players can also easily injure their backs by one simple twist or turn.

Another common instigator of back issues is the incorrect lifting of heavy objects. Many people try to look strong in front of family and friends when heavy lifting is required. While being "macho-man" is fine, future pain can result if lifting is incorrectly attempted. My family had the privilege of taking care of my great grandma for eight years in our home. At the end of the eight years, she was 94, had arthritis, and was too weak to walk or even sit up straight. Every day we would transport her from her bed to her wheelchair, from the wheelchair to the toilet, and so on. Although she was small at around 100 pounds, she was unable to support herself at all, and consequently we could have easily strained our backs if we weren't careful. At times like that, correct lifting form is critical.

Finally, normal wear on our aging bodies can cause back pain. As our bodies endure stress and strain, our muscles can weaken and bones age. If we do nothing to prevent normal weakening due to aging, we will likely experience back pain more severely each year. Lower back pain in particular runs in my family. Although we are a relatively active family, I realize that I am at risk of back injury in the future.

As we become more aware of the various causes of back pain, we can work to combat them. First, sporting injuries can be avoided by including crucial steps in our routines. Stretching before and after playing sports is a non-negotiable necessity. Jillian Michaels, a previous trainer on The Biggest Loser compares our muscles to rubber bands. If we don't stretch them, they are much more likely to snap. But if we stretch them beforehand and afterward, they will work more freely without snapping. Also, knowing our limits is vital. Our bodies give off signals when we are overworking them or causing excessive stress. We must be wise enough to listen. At the end of the day, one game is not worth a lifetime of back pain. Stretching and attention to signals is necessary whenever we play sports.

When it comes to lifting heavy objects, correct form is always the answer. Instead of lifting with our backs, we must learn to use our legs. Sometimes lifting from our legs can look silly, but looking silly for a few moments is preferable to injury. Once again, we must be receptive to our bodies. If we experience pain shooting through any part of the body, we must obey our bodies and elicit help.
Finally, normal wear and pain from aging bodies can be combatted by regular exercise. Strengthening the core with crunches and stretches will help guard the body against creeping pains. Also, in daily activities, we should be sure to protect our backs. Our backs are the anchors of our entire bodies, and negligence toward them could be disastrous.

Of course, even when we obey all the above guidelines, unfortunate events can occur. Chiropractors such as Arctic Chiropractic serve as saviors for us when we seriously injure ourselves. Our entire lives are affected when we are in severe pain, and Arctic Chiropractic desires to alleviate that pain as quickly as possible.

One way that chiropractors help injured people is by showing their patients specific stretches to target muscles. Daily stretching will stretch out the sore areas and strengthen the muscles. Stretching should be continued even when the pain subsides in order to help prevent future pain. Also, exercise regimes are encouraged so that the body becomes stronger and less prone to injury. Chiropractors also explain how to avoid further irritation of muscles during exercise. Performing sit-ups, pushups, and weightlifting incorrectly could do more harm than good on our bodies. Correct form is very important.

An additional benefit chiropractors offer are massages. Full body massages generally range from a half an hour to ninety minutes. Massages not only put a soothing pressure on injured areas, but they also cause people to relax and alleviate stress. By simply ridding themselves of stress, people tend to feel better.

Finally, sometimes spinal screenings are necessary for patients to have. While outward modifications generally take care of back problems, the chiropractor may see a necessity in examining patients' spines more closely. Often spinal screenings reveal back problems such as scoliosis or kyphosis. These cases may require surgery or back braces.

Back pain is an uncomfortable part of life for many people. But it can often be avoided by careful protection, exercise, stretching, and proper lifting form. When back injuries occur, chiropractors such as Arctic Chiropractic are available to help. They offer exercise regimes, massages, and spinal screenings to the public. Chiropractors are incredible resources for people with back problems.




Incorrect Lifting of Heavy Objects

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