Save Your Spine: How to Use Proper Body Mechanics When Caregiving

Oh my aching back! How many times have we heard or experienced that? Our back is our core. When we reach our arms and move our legs, our spine is the foundation for that movement. And as many of us have personally experienced, when our back hurts, moving becomes uncomfortable quickly.

As a caregiver with Visiting Angels, or a family caregiver, we know how dedicated you are to your clients and senior family members. You tend to their needs and comfort daily. However, if caregivers aren’t healthy, they can’t care for our seniors. Therefore, let’s review the principles of body mechanics to keep our spine healthy and prevent injury.

Question 1: When lifting a heavy object, you should:

1. Bend at the waist only
2. Bend at the knees and left with the legs
3. None of the above

Question 2: When moving an object from point A to point B, you should:

1. Lift, then shuffle your feet to change direction while keeping your back straight
2. Plant your feet, then lift and twist your back while holding and moving the object
3. None of the above

Question 3: When holding a heavier object, you should:

1. Hold the object as far away from your body as possible, so you don’t bump into your knees
2. Hold the object as close to your body as possible
3. Hold the object with one arm or the other

Question 4: If you want to strengthen your back, the next most crucial area of the body you can improve to help support your back is:

1. Legs
2. Arms
3. Abdominals

Let’s see how you did on your pop quiz! 

Question 1-- B. The back incurs the least amount of strain when the knees are bent versus when the knees are straight. 

Question 2 -- A. If we twist the spine while lifting, we increase the chances of injury. It is best to keep the back straight and shuffle the feet to move an object from one place to another.

Question 3 -- B. Hold items as close to the body as possible to create the least amount of strain on the back. The further we have to reach, the more stress we place on the spine.

Question 4 -- C. Given the abdominal muscles are directly opposite to the back, the stronger the abdominals, the more support they can provide the spine.

To see proper body mechanics in action, click here to watch a video demonstrating all the right moves.

Visiting Angels is the premier senior in-home care company in Gadsden, AL, and the surrounding areas. If you would like to learn more about how a Visiting Angels caregiver can support your senior loved one or if you would like to explore a career as a caregiver with us, call 256-507-0083 or contact us online today.