How to Practice Proper Lifting Mechanics | Bending at the Hip Vs. Bending at the Back
In today’s new post, we’re talking about the importance of practicing proper lifting mechanics for the purpose of preventing lower back injuries. Many people in today’s society are not aware of their form when they bend over to pick up or lift something from the ground. Often, what you will see is that people tend to bend with the back and this is often how lower back injuries such as a disc bulge or herniation occur. The problem with bending at the back is that it places a great deal of stress onto the collagen fibres of the spinal disc, which over time can lead to injury if enough bending cycles occur. Ultimately, a solution to preventing these lower back injuries from occurring involves practicing proper bending mechanics which involves bending at the hips instead of the back. In the video below, we discuss the difference between bending at the hip versus bending at the back and how this could potentially spare you’re back in the long run.
Highlights of this video include:
- How bending or rounding of the back can lead to injury (disc bulge or disc herniation)
- Why you should bend at the hips versus bending at the back
- How to properly bend at the hips and lift things from the ground
- Exercises that you can practice to develop the hip bending motor pattern
