From moving planters to picking up paint cans, lifting correctly is key to preventing injury. Here are a few tried and true rules for lifting safely and preventing back injury:
- Bend your knees to lift with ease.
- Stand close to the load to be lifted.
- Place your feet shoulder-width apart.
- Bend your knees and keep your back straight.
- Squat down to the level of the object and test the weight of the load.
- Ask for help if the load is too heavy or awkward!
- Use the strength of your leg and arm muscles (not your back) to lift the load smoothly and slowly. Try not to jerk when lifting.
- Keep the load close to your body.
- Never twist your body while turning and carrying the load.
- Pivot to turn in the direction you want to move toward.
- Bend your knees and slowly lower the load to its new location.
If you’ve injured yourself while lifting, a chiropractor can help assess, diagnose, and treat the injury and get you back to moving pain free.
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