That can be difficult. It would be best to lift heavy items from waist level so you don’t have to bend your knees. If you have to lift heavy items from the ground, try to bend your knees only as far as they can go without hurting. Then lower your body by bending at the hips and keeping your hips back. Your low back should be arched in slightly. Grab the item without rounding your back. Without holding your breath, tense your abdominal muscles and lift. Straighten up from your hips. The idea is that your hip muscles will take most of the load, rather than your knees or low back.
FAQ Category: Spine
Do doctors use lasers for spine surgery?
Yes. At this point, laser surgery for the spine is used primarily for disc problems. Lasers are not widely used now, but they appear to leave less scarring after spine surgery. A procedure called thermodiskoplasty uses lasers to shrink collagen and fibrocartilage to change the shape of the disc.
I have a desk job. How can I lower my chances of having back problems from sitting down all day?
There are several precautions you can take. Stay in good physical shape. Take breaks, and do some regular stretching. It is crucial for you to use good posture. You need to set up your work station in a way that lets your spine stay in proper alignment. A physical or occupational therapist or another ergonomics specialist can help you design your work station. Finally, avoid injuries to your back, and don’t smoke.
Are men and women equally at risk for developing low back pain?
Generally speaking, yes. Heavy physical work or very sedentary work contributes to low back pain in both sexes. Studies have shown that some risk factors are different for men and women. For men, doing heavy activities outside of work, and a job with poor social relations and lots of overtime are connected with a higher risk for low back pain. For women, smoking and work that involves whole-body vibrations and gives little influence over work conditions create a high risk of low back pain.
A disc in my low back is causing pain. I’m scheduled to have a surgical procedure called interdiscal electrothermal therapy. Will this surgery make my back weaker?
Surgeons use interdiscal electrothermal therapy (IDET) to treat sore discs without harming the surrounding tissues. Because the muscles and joints stay intact, you shouldn’t lose strength in your spine. Scientists have done studies to see whether the spine weakens after a surgery like this. So far, the results suggest that spines have the same strength after IDET. You should still make sure to do the exercises your doctor prescribes after surgery. Your rehabilitation program is planned to maximize the health and strength of your back and help you avoid future problems.
Can what I do at work affect my chances of having low back pain?
Available science isn’t clear about conclusions that job tasks, even heavy types of work, cause pain. Actually, activities like heavy lifting and prolonged sitting may be connected because back pain may simply be aggravated in people who do these activities. Low back pain may have more of an affect on people who have to do a lot of lifting. This is because they more commonly stay off work or require a longer period before getting back on the job.
Jobs that involve whole-body vibrations (such as heavy equipment operation) seem to pose some added risk for low back pain.
Good physical conditioning, weight management, routine stretching, and using safe body movements can reduce the chances of having back problems, as can avoiding injuries and not smoking. People with one back injury are more likely to have another. And people who smoke run a higher risk of having back problems.