Lifting properly to prevent back injury

What types of lifting can cause injury?

Before focusing on the right way to lift, review the following common lifting mistakes that easily lead to a back injury:

• Allowing the back to curve forward while you grasp an object, then lifting by straightening the back
• Bending at the hips but keeping the legs straight while grasping and lifting
• Twisting the back while lifting or holding, usually by turning the shoulders, but not the hips
• Holding an object away from the body
• Lifting a heavy object (or child) above shoulder level
• Attempting to lift an object that's too heavy or awkward for one person to safely lift
• Underestimating the need to be careful when lifting a light object

Test Your Knowledge

1. I only need to be careful about body mechanics when I'm lifting something that's heavy or awkward.

1. True
2. False

Continue to Why is it important to be careful about lifting?
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Author:	Shannon Erstad, MBA/MPH	Last Updated: February 6, 2008
Medical Review:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine Robert B. Keller, MD - Orthopedics
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