The Importance of Proper Lifting - Fort Lee Physical Therapy - Fort Lee, NJ
Picture of Hyun J. (June) Park,  PT, DPT, CIDN

Hyun J. (June) Park, PT, DPT, CIDN

Dr Hyun Park graduated from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. She is certified in dry needling by the Integrative Dry Needling Institute and a member of the APTA (American Physical Therapy Association).

The Importance of Proper Lifting

Improper lifting is a major cause neck, shoulder and back pain - and possibly lead to more serious injuries.

Since I have written about pain, and back pain, a couple times I thought it would be beneficial to write a short post that shares the proper way to lift.

Improper lifting is a major cause neck, shoulder and back pain – and possibly lead to more serious injuries. Learning how to lift properly will help you minimize pain and prevent injury.

Here are some things to keep in mind:
• Plan ahead before lifting heavy objects by making sure you have a clear path. Doing so will help you avoid any awkward or sudden movements that can strain your you back, neck or shoulder muscles.
• Test each object’s weight before lifting by pushing it with your foot. If it seems too heavy, or if you can’t move it with just your foot, it’s probably a good idea to ask someone for help.
• You’ve heard this a million times – but I will say it again! Lift with your legs and not with your back. Do not lean over an object to lift it. Instead, stand close to the object, bend your legs and keep your back straight.
• Keep feet shoulder-width apart and maintain your balance by distributing the object’s weight equally on both sides of your body.

Even if you do everything right sometimes bad things happen. Make sure that if you do hurt your back during heavy lifting (or any kind of lifting) you seek help from a physical therapist as soon as possible. Most people don’t understand that what can start as a minor back injury could progress to a chronic condition if ignored.

If you’ve recently strained your back, or have in the past, we recommend coming in for a consultation to see if there is anything that can be done to elevate your pain. Please give us a call at 201-585-7300, or you can also fill out our contact form online to set up an appointment.

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