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Lifting Correctly

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  • Before lifting an object, stand back and assess it.
  • Don’t be too proud to ask for help.
  • Then get close to the object, place your feet shoulder width apart.
  • Bend down using your knees, not your back. The back should remain straight.
  • Consciously pull the stomach muscles in.
  • Take a firm grasp of the object, holding it close to your body.
  • Lift by straightening the legs, allowing the big muscles in your legs to do the work.
  • DO NOT use your back. Your back should remain straight and your stomach muscles should still be working. When carrying the object, turn by moving your feet, not your waist.
  • Put the object down by bending the knees.

ALTERNATIVE

  • An alternative to bending both knees in a squat to lift is to bend down and have one knee on the ground with the other bent. The body is still directly facing the object.
  • As you lift using your leg muscles, one leg will be behind the other.
  • Remember to still use your abdominals to help support the back.
  • This is a good option for people with knee problems or other issues which limit their ability to lift from a squat.

OTHER NOTES FOR LIFTING

When lifting out of a car or other difficult area where you have to reach forward to reach the object, it is important to hold the stomach in and bring the object as close to your body as possible. Try to keep your feet wide to give you a good base of support and thus help with balance.

If you have to bend or twist for unusual locations, you must be very careful. It is important to know that you should never twist and straighten your spine at the same time. Your spine has different mechanics for twisting when it is bent and when it is straight. If you twist your back, always untwist before bending or straightening your back.

Osteopathy Research

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Listed below is a range of research relating to Osteopathy.  Studies vary in size and findings.  Ongoing larger scale research is required in many areas to support Osteopathic treatments.  Please use this information as a guide only and not as a guarantee to the benefits of Osteopathic treatment for your condition.  Please contact us should you have any questions regarding this.

Gert Bronfort, Mitch Haas, Roni Evans, Brent Leininger, Jay Triano

Published on PubMed

Spinal manipulation/mobilization is effective in adults for: acute, subacute, and chronic low back pain; migraine and cervicogenic headache; cervicogenic dizziness; manipulation/mobilization is effective for several extremity joint conditions; and thoracic manipulation/mobilization is effective for acute/subacute neck pain.

Following a review (by the UK government’s independent Advertising Standards Authority  of the Bronfort et al Review in 2010) they accept that Osteopaths may claim to help a variety of medical conditions, including:

  • generalised aches and pains
  • joint pains including hip and knee pain from osteoarthritis as an adjunct to core OA treatments and exercise
  • arthritic pain
  • general, acute & chronic backache, back pain (not arising from injury or accident)
  • uncomplicated mechanical neck pain (as opposed to neck pain following injury i.e. whiplash)
  • headache arising from the neck (cervicogenic) / migraine prevention
  • frozen shoulder/ shoulder and elbow pain/ tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) arising from associated musculoskeletal conditions of the back and neck, but not isolated occurrences
  • circulatory problems
  • cramp
  • digestion problems
  • joint pains, lumbago
  • sciatica
  • muscle spasms
  • neuralgia
  • fibromyalgia
  • inability to relax
  • rheumatic pain
  • minor sports injuries and tensions.

Below is a link to the Acupuncture Evidence Project: Plain English Summary

Acupuncture-Evidence_plain-English-Web-version_Reissued_28_Nov