How to Lift Properly to Prevent Back Injury – Use These 7 Steps

How to Lift Properly To Prevent Back Injury

7 steps to use when lifting to protect your back:

When lifting objects at home or at work, it’s important to use the correct techniques to keep protect your back from injury. With that in mind, we put together these 7 simple steps for how to lift properly:

  1. When lifting an object, keep the object as close to the front as your body as you can.
  2. Make sure the object is at waist level and directly in front of your body. Do not twist.
  3. If there are handles available, use them.
  4. Keep your spine in a straight, neutral position when lifting to prevent any injuries to your back.
  5. When getting into a standing position, make sure to push through your heels.
  6. Activate your transverse abdominis (drawing your belly button in and holding it) to assist your low back when lifting.
  7. When going back down, keep your belly tight and act like you are sitting down in a chair when squatting.

Following these 7 steps should help you when trying to remember how to lift properly to avoid injuring your back.

Unfortunately, even if you follow perfect technique, back injury is still possible. If you do happen to experience back pain while lifting, don’t hesitate to call us at 573-335-7868 to make an appointment.

By: Dustin Spooler, PTA