Safe lifting: what do health professionals believe?
In the prevention of low back pain (LBP), health professionals almost always include education of lifting postures as part of manual handling which often trains people to lift with a straight back and bent legs.
Whether lifting is a risk factor for LBP is a debatable matter. Various studies show that - although cumulative back loading is associated with LBP - mechanical loading parameters do not link directly to the cause of LBP.
This electronic survey sent out 4 pictures to PTs and MHAs which included 2 pictures of an individual lifting a heavy but liftable box with flexed spine and 2 with a straight spine. These health professionals were also asked to fill out the Back-PAQ (a questionnaire designed to highlight unhelpful back belief).
When the PTs and MHAs were asked to select which of the 4 pictures they thought were most safe and why, a significant number of them chose photos of the individual lifting with the straight spine.
The authors concluded that those who preferred a more straight spine lifting position had more negative beliefs about the back.
However, it is also important to note that the authors did declare a conflict of interest as 2 of them are providers of education courses that challenge the existing beliefs regarding lifting and back pain.
> From: Nolan et al., Musculoskelet Sci Pract 33 (2017-12-11 06:35:26) 35-40 (Epub ahead of print). All rights reserved to Elsevier Ltd. Click here for the online summary.
