Repeated motion and lifting is the number one way in which people injure their back.
These basic rules can help keep you free from injury.
- If an object is too heavy or awkward, get help.
- Spread your feet apart to give you a wide base of support.
- Bend at the knees and do not arch the back.
- Hold objects close to the body to reduce the load on the back.
- Lift using leg muscles, not back muscles.
- Stand up without bending from the waist.
- Never twist at the waist while lifting something heavy. Turn your whole body to change direction or set something down.
- If an object can be moved without lifting, pull it, don’t push.