Lifting Safety

People whose jobs require lots of physical labor are aware that there’s a right way and a wrong way to lift something. But people who have to carry heavy loads less frequently may not be aware of how to keep themselves safe. We see a lot of preventable injuries at the Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Nitro, and while we’re always happy to help people get back on their feet, we want our patients to understand how to keep themselves in good condition.

The first step of lifting safety is to never lift anything unless necessary. If you’re carrying something heavy for work that isn’t normally a part of your job, request the use of a dolly. If you must carry something, get a feel on it first to determine its center of gravity. Clear your path of obstructions, prop open all doors, and have a plan for where you’re going to set the object down and which way it will be facing.

When you lift the object squat down in front of it and use your leg muscles to lift yourself up. Keep your head up and position the object so that it is at mid-chest level. As you walk, rotate your entire body around corners; do not just twist your torso. Use your legs to crouch down again while depositing the object, slowly sliding your fingers out from under it.

Dr. Jay McClanahan operates the Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center at 642 Cross Lanes Drive, Nitro, West Virginia, 25143. To schedule an appointment, visit Dr J Back Doc WV or call 304-776-1520.