Lift Right!

Incorrect Lifting

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than a million workers suffer back injuries each year, and they account for one out of every five workplace injuries or illnesses.

Many back injuries, both on the job and in the home, are the result of improper lifting. Remember to practice proper lifting technique to prevent serious injury to your back.

  1. Plan ahead – know the weight of the object and where you are going; clear the path you will be using.
  2. Make sure you are on firm footing; keep your feet spread apart, one foot slightly ahead of the other.
  3. Squat down - bend at the knees, keeping your back straight and your head level, to pick up the object.
  4. Avoid jerky movements; lift smoothly as you straighten your legs.
  5. Keep the object close to your body -holding it away from you places stress on your back.
  6. Turn with your feet instead of twisting your body at the waist.
  7. Never bend at the waist to pick up an object!

Keep in mind that if an object is particularly heavy, you may need a hand truck, a dolly, or another person to assist you with moving it. Don’t compromise your safety or your back to lift any object.

Dr. Priestley Asks some important questions of interest to Newport Beach residents - Chiropractor Newport Beach Dr. Priestley Asks...

Why are frequent visits advised when starting chiropractic care?
Consistent visits at the beginning of your chiropractic care help create the momentum necessary to correct and retrain unhealthy spinal patterns. Later, Newport Beach practice members find that continued care on a less frequent visit schedule can help preserve their progress and avoid a relapse.
Is a muscle spasm a cause or an effect?
With the knee-jerk use of muscle relaxers, you'd think it was a cause. But it's an effect. Chiropractors know that bones don't move unless muscles move them. And muscles don't contract unless commanded by the nervous system. That's why your nervous system is the focus of our Newport Beach chiropractic practice.