Carle Spine Institute | 610 North Lincoln Ave. Urbana, Illinois 61801 | Medical Advice Nurse 217-383-6555

Tour the Center

Mini-brochure

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.

Lift

Put one knee on the ground and use your arms and legs to move the object up onto the opposite thigh. Stand up. Never bend at the waist while lifting.

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.

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. An alternate method is to bend both knees in a squatting position, grasp the object keeping fingers underneath it, keep your back erect and stand. In both examples, use your leg muscles, not your back, to generate the lifting force.

Quick navigation links:

Sitemap | Home | Downloads | Patient Rights | About Carle Spine Institute in Illinois | Center of Excellence | Spine Physician Bios | Illinois Spine Center Overview | Locations in Urbana, Mattoon, Danville, IL | For Case Managers | In The News | Spine Problems | Back Pain | Neck Pain | Degenerative Disc | Herniated Disc | Bone Spur | Stenosis | Scoliosis | Kyphosis | Spondylolysis | Spinal Tumor | Treatment | Diagnostics | PM&R | Physical Therapy | Nonsurgical Care | Spine Surgery Options in Illinois | Artificial Disc | Minimally Invasive Surgery | Home Remedies | Educational Resources | Spine Health E-zine | Symptoms Chart | Anatomy Library | Exercise Library | Back Exercises | Neck Exercises | Strengthening Exercises | Preventing Back Pain | How to Lift | Clinical Outcomes | Our Report Card | NCQA Recognition | Contact Carle Spine Institute in Illinois | Appointment | Second opinion before spine surgery | Billing | Employment

Need more information on back and neck pain? Click here to view resource books on spine problems, what causes back pain, what causes neck pain and when to see the doctor.   Web design & Copyright © 2008 Prizm Development, Inc., the most experienced developer of spine centers of excellence. www.prizmdevelopment.com