Fit For Duty Consulting

Feel Great, Look Good and Work Smart

  • Home
  • About
  • Products and Programs
  • Free Courses
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Login
  • Introduction
  • Exercise Module
  • Nutrition Module
  • Weight Loss Module
  • Heart Health Module
  • Back Health Module
  • Sleep and Stress Module
  • Recipes
  • Workouts
  • Fitness Test
  • Classes For Wellness Program Leadership

3 of the most important things you should avoid at all costs while lifting

March 29, 2016 By Karlie Moore Leave a Comment

Last week I taught you the #1 most important thing you need to be doing while lifting. If you missed it, check out the 2 minute video. In the next few blog posts I’m going to explain 3 of the most important things you should avoid at all costs while lifting. Lifting is the #1 source of firefighter injuries so understanding this stuff is really important.

3 of the most important things you should avoid at all costs while lifting

#1 Reaching. For every 10 centimeter increase in the distance from you, the stress placed on your spine while lifting something increases exponentially. Think about how small 10 centimeters is!

Think about a time when you used a lever system to lift something. The further away the object (blue square), the more force applied to the fulcrum (the triangle). In your body, your spine is the fulcrum!lever system fulcrum

So in a situation like the one depicted below, this firefighter needs to scoot closer to his “patient.” Making this minor change makes a huge difference in the damaging forces he places on his spine and thus his potential for injuring his back both during the movement and later on.

IMG_0630 bad 1 IMG_0631 good 1

Here’s a story to help you remember to avoid reaching. A firefighter once told me that he injured his back carrying a large turtle out of a fire. Naturally, he didn’t want to cuddle with the snapping turtle, so he straightened his arms, carrying the heavy thing far from his face, placing too much stress on his spine!

Stay tuned to learn the 2nd and 3rd most important things you should avoid at all costs while lifting.

In the comments below, tell me: what experiences have you had with back injuries? Any stories like the turtle story?!

If you’re liking these tips, I’ve got a lot more where that came from! Click here to learn about my Wellness Training for fire departments.

If you’re not on my list to get more health tips like these, enter your name and email below.

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

My work has been featured in:

Want free health & fitness tips?

Enter your name and email address here to get health tips plus your first online class...it's FREE!

Connect With Me

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Linkedin
  • Twitter

Karlie Moore, PhD · email: Karlie@fitfordutyconsulting.com · phone: (541)261-0849

© 2018 Fit For Duty Consulting