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Home >> Educational Resources >> Proper Lifting
Proper Lifting
How to Lift Without Hurting Your Back
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.
Lifting Menu
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Proper Lifting - Single Knee Method
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. |
Proper Lifting - Squat Method
An alternate way to lift is to position the object in between your knees. Keeping your back straight and arms extended, begin to stand up using the power of your leg muscles, rather than
your back, to generate the lifting force. |
Incorrect Lifting
Note that the left image above shows the incorrect stance for lifting. This posture is dangerous because of the unnecessary strain it puts on the back. |
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Have you ever heard of anyone straining a thigh muscle
while lifting? Hardly ever. That is because the muscles in the legs are
longer, stronger, in better shape and more resistant to strain. The muscles
and ligaments in the back are shorter and prone to muscle spasm.
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Where pictures of patients are displayed, the patients of University Orthopedics have consented to have their picture in this website for the purpose of patient education.
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