Lift heavy items properly

[mdmrcog]

Use good body mechanics for everyday activities (such as carrying a backpack instead of a purse or briefcase and lifting with the legs instead of the back).
Backpacks should not be more than 20% of a person’s body weight. They should weigh even less for very young children. A common cause of temporary back pain in children is carrying backpacks that are too heavy.

If you engage in heavy lifting, you should take precautions when lifting and bending. Try to follow some of these recommendations:
o Spread your feet apart to give yourself a wide base of support.
o Stand as close as possible to the object being lifted.
o Bend at the knees, not at the waist. As you move up and down, tighten stomach muscles and tuck buttocks in so that the pelvis is rolled under and the spine remains in a natural "S' curve. (Even when not lifting an object, always try to use this posture when stooping down.)
o Hold objects close to the body to reduce the load on the back.
o Lift using the leg muscles, not those in the back.
o Stand up without bending forward from the waist.
o Never twist from the waist while bending or lifting any heavy object. If you need to move an object to one side, point your toes in that direction and pivot toward it.
o If an object can be moved without lifting, push it, don't pull. If you have to choose between pushing and pulling an object (lawn mover for example), choose pushing. Pushing an object allows you to use your leg muscles to move the object. Of course, if you have knee problems, keep in mind that pushing a heavy object may strain the knees.
o If the object is too heavy for you, you should not be lifting it. Though lifting with the legs prevents injury to the back, you may strain your knees joints when lifting an object too heavy for you. If an object is too heavy or awkward, get help.

Taken from "Say Goodbye to Back Pain" by Dr. V. Ranjan

[rickflair]

I agree with you on all the Information you shared above but have a little different view on this point,"Spread your feet apart to give yourself a wide base of support."I don't think that this thing is gonna work.Can you please explain who is this thing possible...