Don’t lift with your back! Or should you…

We’ve all been told at some point in life “Don't Lift with your back”, but is this age old saying truly sound advice? The answer to this question is yes…but also no. 

The advice originally came from a good place. Lifting heavy objects with a rounded spine, poor control, and poor body mechanics can increase stress on your spine and raise the risk of injury—especially if someone isn’t conditioned for that movement. 

However, the idea that your back should never be used during lifting isn’t realistic. Your back muscles are designed to work. The spine, surrounding muscles, and discs are strong and adaptable structures that tolerate load when they are gradually exposed to it. In fact, avoiding using your back altogether can lead to weakness, reduce capacity over time, and ultimately increase your risk of injury.

Instead of thinking “never lift with your back,” a better message might be: build a back that can handle lifting.

Your back isn’t fragile. With the right preparation, it’s one of the most resilient structures you have.

If you are ready to start taking better care of your back, learn to lift the right way, and stay out of pain, message us today to see how we can help!