When discussing the topic of how to lift, we need to be very flexible (excuse the pun) in our thinking about the entire matter because there seems to be no absolute right way to do it. So many factors come into play: size and weight of the object to be lifted, the physical condition of the lifter, the speed at which the object must be moved, the height of the lift, the amount of time the object must be held, how far in front or side the object must be placed, et cetera, that to lay down hard and fixed rules simply doesn't work. However, as health professionals who spend 70% of their time dealing with painful low backs that often stem from lifting injuries, chiropractors are frequently giving advice on lifting. So we need to say something half intelligent. It's hard to say, "We don't know how to lift 'cause the scientific literature hasn't shown us the right way yet". Sounds lame, eh?
So what we and other health care people do is say the usual stuff that we all have heard before, but what do the "experts" actually say?
Believe it or not, there was actually a conference held in Edinburgh, Scotland this year. At this meeting were 37 internationally recognized low back experts and specialists. Together they examined the literature and came up with a basic set of guiding physical and behavioral principles for two-handed lifting. This information was taken from The Back Letter August 2003 edition. And here they are, gee I wish I could type out a drum roll.
- Think before you lift
- Keep the load close to your waist.
- Adopt a stable position.
- Ensure a good, firm hold on the load.
- At the start of the lift only slightly bend your back, hips, and knees.
- Don't stoop too low or squat with your knees and hips.
- Don't allow your spine to bend any further once you begin the lift.
- Avoid twisting your trunk or leaning sideways, especially when your back is bent.
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