Back pain is one of the most common complaints received in chiropractic clinics and by orthopaedic physicians because there are so many different activities that can lead to back problems. Back pain can be due to direct trauma, prolonged sitting, poor posture and often, heavy lifting.
At
Baltimore Back and Pain Center we treat two common back injuries that can be experienced while lifting weight: a muscle strain and a muscle sprain. A
muscle strain is a stretching or tearing of muscle or tendon. A tendon is a fibrous cord of tissue that connects muscles to bones. Strains often occur in the lower back and in the hamstring muscle in the back of your thigh. A
muscle sprain is a stretching or tearing of ligaments — the tough bands of fibrous tissue that connect one bone to another in your joints. The most common location for a sprain is in your ankle. During heavy lifting, ligaments on the back may be torn leading to back pains. A torn ligament will usually put strain on the surrounding muscles leading to muscle spasms. These muscle spasms also cause significant inflammation that contributes to moderate to severe back pain.
Whether an injury is a muscle sprain or a lumbar strain, what is important is to prevent and manage these injuries efficiently to prevent significant back discomfort. Prevention of back pain starts primarily from avoiding heavy lifting. As much as possible, the body should be given adequate time to rest in between lifts in order to prevent prolonged muscle sprains and strains. Prevention also involves proper use of body mechanics in order to limit the injury to the back.
Dr. Michael Dorn of
BBAP recommends these two preventive measures that are necessary when lifting heavy objects is inevitable:
- Never bend at your waist when aiming to pick a heavy object on the ground.
- Lift objects with your arms close to the sides of the body instead of putting the weight against your shoulders.
Many people place a heavy load on their shoulders and back while lifting. If an object can be physically lifted by a person, one should lift with the hands close to the sides of the body to distribute the weight evenly. However, if lifting is impossible, make use of a trolley and never use your body to lift it.
If you or a loved one are suffering from back pain, call
Baltimore Back and Pain Center at
(410) 662-4476 for a free chiropractic evaluation and hydro massage. Directions and office hours are posted on the
Baltimore Back and Pain Center website.
