The Wonderful Back and How to Protect It

Our back, the most important part of our bodies as the spine protects the nerves that run the length of our bodies, and provides the support and flexibility we need daily.  Unfortunately, the back is also the most abused part of our bodies daily.  We don’t sit properly, we lift things incorrectly, and our age and weight all play a part in how we abuse our backs.  Back injuries are also the most common workplace injury, according to OSHA, resulting in millions of dollars in claims and missed time at work.  Because the spine is the “highway” of information in our bodies, any little tweak or sprain can result in pain, but with a few proper techniques you can help protect yourself.

We have all heard don’t lift with your back, but do you know why?  The back muscles aren’t the strongest in the body as they are only there to help provide the support to the spine, and weren’t meant to carry heavy loads.  Our arms and legs have some of the strongest muscles in the body, so when we lift, we should be using those muscles.  Lifting with our legs takes the strain from the muscles supporting the back and puts it onto the parts that are actually designed to lift and carry.   Parents often have the hardest time remembering to do this, as things like the play pen and walkers weren’t designed with the proper lifting techniques in mind.

When you set down a box or other item you are carrying, do you twist to put it down or do you just drop it?  You should never twist when you put down a load as it puts a lot of strain on your back that isn’t needed, and isn’t allowing your legs or arms to do what they were designed to do.  Dropping the load instead of setting it down can also cause injuries as you could drop it on your foot, or if someone else is helping you, they could wind up being the ones hurt instead.

To help maintain your back, remember to stand and sit up straight, don’t slouch (just like your mother always told you, moms always tend to know best).  Make sure that you have a good mattress, one that doesn’t sag when you sit or lie in it, and a body pillow can also help by keeping you in alignment when you sleep.  Exercise is really good for your back and your health in general, but make sure you talk to your doctor first to make sure you can. 

Just remember that without our backs we would be like a bunch of jelly fish.  Our back is one of our greatest assets, and one of the most important as well.  Take care of it and it will take you far.