We all need to move something heavy from time to time. Perhaps you recently moved and had box after box to carry in. Maybe your bought new furniture and your new couch was a little heavier than you originally thought it would be. Further still, some people carry heavy items as part of their regular workplace functions and so it is their job to constantly be lifting and moving. Warehouse employees are constantly repeating this action. Whether you do this type of lifting every single day or only once, it’s possible to injure yourself doing it.
When you lift heavy objects using incorrect form, musculoskeletal injuries can occur in an instant. It only takes one time to injure yourself! You always want to bend your knees when standing upright to pick up anything. Do not bend from your waist. This way, you keep your back straight and allow your arms and shoulder muscles to do the work, not your back. A simple task like moving a heavy box delivered on the porch to a higher location like a chair, table, or kitchen countertop can cause back or muscle strain if not done correctly.
So, what happens if it is too late and you’re already hurt? You book time to be seen by a Columbia, MD physical therapy professional! There are three types of back injuries you can obtain from improper lifting. They include:
#1 Disc Injury
#2 Joint Injury
#3 Muscle Injury
If you experience any of the above injuries, call a physical therapist in Columbia, MD to schedule a physical therapy evaluation. When you reach out, be sure to let the friendly team member know your injury is due to lifting something incorrectly so your injury can be treated by physical therapy specialists who are best able to assess your condition and prescribe the necessary treatments to address your situation.
You can’t continue to live in this type of pain. It affects every facet of your daily life. Your physical therapist will go over all of these treatment plan options and discuss which may be the right course of action for you. Physical therapists will apply proven therapy manipulation, exercises, and specific equipment to help you regain your strength and improve your mobility. They will be happy to do so because a physical therapist is committed to helping you reduce and control the symptoms so that you can go back to living a pain-free and active life. Book an appointment with a physical therapist now and soon you will return to your normal lifestyle!
Next time, be sure to either avoid lifting anything yourself or do so in a way that keeps your knees bent and your back straight. Otherwise, you are risking yet another back, joint, or disc injury that requires medical treatment.