Be Careful Lifting That Box

There’s a right and wrong way to lift.  Lifting something the wrong way is one of the main reasons give for back sprains and muscle pulls.  You hear people say they “threw their back out” and it usually happens after trying to lift something improperly.   People use sloppy lifting posture when they get in a hurry.

When you lift something, you need to do it with the right form.  You want your back muscles to work the way they’re meant to work.  For starters, your feet should be shoulder width apart.  Then you want to bend the knees like you’re going to do a squat while keeping your back straight.  Finally, lift the object in a balanced manner while keeping the item close to your body.  When you extend your arms out it puts extra pressure on your back muscles.  The goal is to make your lower body do a lot of the pressure work so your back muscles aren’t strained.