Lifting Correctly Is Essential To Avoid Back Trouble Later In Life
Nearly everyone that I know does not do manual handling correctly, which includes lifting as well as pulling and pushing.
How To Lift Correctly
There are actually a few techniques to lift correctly but all follow the same principles.
First of all, you should bend at the knees and not at the waist. Even stooping over at the waist like golfers do when they retrieve their ball from the hole is bad for the lower back. Their lower back is effectively lifting the entire upper body, even though the ball might weigh practically nothing.
Secondly, you should keep the weight as close as possible the the centre line of your body. This means it should be kept central and it should also be kept close to you.
Third, as you lift you should do so in a controlled manner and not a jerky one, otherwise you risk dropping the load and injuring yourself. A good tip is to look straight ahead as you lift, much as an Olympic weight lifter will do. This will help to keep your body vertical and prevent you from leaning forward or backward.
The Benefits Of Lifting Correctly
If you lift correctly then you should hopefully not get any back trouble in future years to come.
The problem with humans is that ever since we learned to walk on two feet we have put the health of our backs at risk. Worse still, the modern sedentary lifestyle and evolution of the desk job have made this problem worse. Regular exercise to mobilise the back is also recommended if your day to day job does not involve any outdoor or manual work.