Simply bending over is a surprisingly common cause of back injury and pain. If often occurs when someone bends at the waist and hips instead of bending the knees to lower the body.
Here are some helpful tips to prevent these injuries. You should spread your feet apart to give your body a wide base of support and stand as close as possible to the object you are lifting. It is also important to bend at the knees, not at your waist or back. Tighten your stomach muscles as you lift the object up or down. To increase stability and minimize straining your back when you bend down, be sure to keep your head right above your feet. Keep your back as erect as possible and centered over your hips and feet and squat down rather than bend forward. When bending down, don’t twist your body.
Using these simple tips can help minimize your risk of injury to your back. If you have a back injury, contact Dr. Jeffrey Klein, Klein Chiropractic Center, located in West Chester, PA, who can help ease your back pain.