February 5, 2025
“Lift with your knees” is a common saying when it comes to picking up heavy items, but with how commonplace the saying is, too many people don’t follow the advice. When it comes to lifting weights, picking up furniture, or anything that needs to get lifted from the floor, there is always a possibility of experiencing lower back pain.
Find out why you have lower back pain from lifting, how to prevent it from happening, and how a chiropractor can help you recover from it, here!
What Is A Disc Herniation?
Also known as a herniated disc, a disc herniation occurs when the nucleus or center of the spine pushes through the exterior. Some people may experience numbness or tingling in the back, leg, arm, or foot, while others only have minor pain and discomfort while the injury repairs itself.
What Is A Back Strain?
A back strain is an injury to a muscle or tendon in the back. Sprains, where a ligament is torn, are also common. Both are common issues, but they need care to resolve and repair themselves properly.
How To Prevent Lower Back Pain
Lower back pain is a preventable injury in most cases. While there is a chance to experience it, there are tried and true practices to avoid the pain and discomfort.
- Proper Lifting Technique
- Keep Healthy
- Exercise
These are all phrases and pieces of advice you’ve heard before, but together they paint an excellent picture of proper lifting technique to avoid lower back pain and other preventable injuries:
Lift With Your Legs
Your legs are stronger than your back and can handle heavier loads. Don’t bend at the waist when picking up an item, squat and use your legs to get to a standing position.
Keep Good Posture
When you are carrying and lifting the object, keep good posture to minimize injury. This looks like keeping a straight back while holding the weight.
Don’t Twist Your Back
The most important part of the technique is not to twist your back. Twisting creates uneven pressure on the spinal column and an opportunity for injury to strike.
Preventing injuries starts before you do any physical activity. This begins with your full body composition and health. The easiest example is smoking cigarettes. Smoking actively deteriorates your health and makes you more susceptible to injuries and other illnesses. Your ability to prevent injuries is also dependent on your weight. A healthy weight is key to preventing injuries.
Exercise is a vital activity to keep yourself healthy. By regularly exercising, you can maintain a healthy weight and stay ready in the event of injury.
How Can A Chiropractor Help?
Low back pain is a common complaint, and chiropractors should be your first call. Due to the rigorous training and education chiropractic requires of its practitioners, chiropractors are well-versed in all things related to lower back pain.
Massage Therapy
If your injury is caused by a pulled muscle or other soft tissue, your chiropractor could use massage therapy and other gentler methods to relieve pain. In addition to the RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) method, chiropractic care and massage therapy can be powerful tools on your road to recovery.
Chiropractic Adjustment
Injuries involving harder tissue, like herniated discs, can cause spinal manipulation, also known as chiropractic adjustments. These methods are a chiropractor’s primary treatment against pain and discomfort. By using adjustments, the chiropractor will manually place the skeleton back into its proper alignment, leading to almost instant relief.
Plan For Recovery
Care extends past the office, however. Your chiropractor may also prescribe exercises, stretches, or diet adjustments as a part of your health plan. One visit to a chiropractor is a marked improvement to your health, but consistent work and check ins with your chiropractor are necessary to keep on track for a full recovery.
Got Lower Back Pain?
If you’re suffering from lower back pain, visit Family Life Chiropractic in Clearwater, FL! Our dedicated chiropractor has the tools and experience to help realign your spine and minimize your pain.
Contact us to start your path to a pain-free life!
About the Author: With over three decades of experience, Dr. Jere Jarrett is a highly educated and experienced chiropractor who serves Clearwater, FL, and the surrounding areas. He takes a “whole-body” approach to chiropractic care. Instead of treating symptoms, Dr. Jarrett looks for the underlying cause of pain and discomfort. Call 727-447-4647 to schedule an appointment!