How to prevent injury when lifting heavy objects

The body is divided into systems according to the functions derived from each. When you think of the muscles, joints and ligaments which is anything that works together to enable movement of the limbs, this fall under the broad classification of Orthopedics. Any disorder to components of the Orthopedics system can result in either a dislocation of a joint or tearing of cartilage, among other ailments. These are just a few of the many known injuries of the orthopedics, but with proper care, most can be effectively treated.

The first step in avoiding lifting injuries is analyzing the work place where you spend most of your time in, such as your work or home spaces. With a safe environment, hazards are eliminated or identified easily, and injuries that could have otherwise occurred due to high risk areas are corrected. Even if you work at a desk job, it does not mean that your are without risk for lifting injuries.  A slight movement picking up a ream of paper, a stack of files, or even a heavy computer bag in an awkward manner can easily result in back or muscular injury.

When you have been sitting for extended periods of time, it is not recommended to quickly lift or move heavy objects. The body is not warmed up, so take a few minutes walking around and stretching a bit before attempting to lift anything of heft. A few moments of preparation can prevent weeks of rehab. Remember to lift a given object slowly and with proper technique.

A proper lifting technique calls for deliberate and calculated lifting to get a weight safely off the ground. Rather than lifting a weight at the full extent of our reach, it is safer to bring the body as close as possible to the weight before reaching out. The next step is to firmly hold on to the object so that its weight is evenly distributed between the arm muscles. The feet should be apart but the width should not exceed or fall short of the shoulder width. This ensures a firm base and even distribution of the weight on the ground.

Many orthopedic injuries occur during lifting, and it is important to emphasize appropriate techniques every time we lift an object. Become cognizant of the right way to lift so that you create a healthy habit. Always bend the knees, butt down, lift with your legs, lift slowly, and maintain a straight back alignment every time you are about to lift up anything. This conditions the body to assume this correct position every time before lifting. Depending on the object you are about to pick off the ground, you should practice the lift before the actual action.

Keeping the back straight helps to protect the spine from injury, The best way to assume this posture is to suck in the stomach in a manner that tightens the muscles around it. If the object you are lifting appears to get heavier at any point, it's better to set it down and ask for assistance.  When it comes to lifting, keep it smart and safe.

Remember to live life to its Fullest

Dr. Kevin Crawford

4110 22nd Place Lubbock, TX 79410

(806) 792-4329

Disclaimer:  This information is provided as an educational service, and is not intended as a substitute for medical advice.  Anyone seeking seeking specific medical advice or assistance should consult his or her doctor or orthopedic surgeon.

How to Choose the Best Orthopedic Doctor

Selecting a good orthopedic doctor is just as important as selecting a general health physician. So what exactly do you look for when shopping for an orthopedic doctor? A lot of people across the world suffer from musculoskeletal problems. Unfortunately, not everyone understands that these problems can be treated by orthopedic doctors. The following are tips on how to choose the best orthopedic doctor:

Reputation is important

It is essential to find out the reputation of a particular doctor before selecting him or her as your orthopedic doctor of choice. This information can be found from the doctor’s past clients, or you can find the information in form of online reviews or possible posted on the doctor’s website. When looking for online reviews, ensure that the reviews are written by real people and seem legitimate. Also, your primary care physician might be a great resource for a top-notch referral.

Go for a doctor that does not keep you waiting

Doctors’ offices normally mean well; unfortunately, some doctors tend to try and fix urgent visits into an already packed schedule. This usually causes delays and postponements. It is important to go to doctors that are more considerate of your time as client and as a patient. They should build extra spaces for emergency cases into the daily schedule without inconveniencing other patients. Just bear in mind that the top doctors are usually the busiest for a reason. 

Get recommendations from family members, friends, or colleagues

This is one of the best ways of finding a good orthopedic doctor. The best way of going with this tip is to ask around who has been treated by an orthopedic doctor in the past. Therefore, ask your family members, friends and colleagues about their experiences with the different orthopedic doctors and make an informed choice.

Experience

Experience is very important when looking for a good orthopedic doctor. A doctor with years of experience and ongoing education may be better at diagnosing musculoskeletal problem. This is because he or she has attended to many patients and may have the ability to make a diagnosis about the problem more accurately. It is therefore advisable that, if you have an sport injury or muscle problem, you should visit an orthopedic doctor who is experienced in treating the condition.

Credentials

A doctor’s credentials are very important. Through the credentials you will be able to understand the type of doctor you are visiting. Is he or she an orthopedic or general physician? It is important to check out the doctor before you go for an appointment. Additionally, you can check online for a license to operate as a doctor from the state medical board or the state board of orthopedics.

Specialty

It is important to also find out the doctor’s specialty. Some orthopedists specialize in treating children while others specialize in treating adults with specific injury problems. Therefore, if you are choosing ailment.

Remember to live life to its Fullest

Dr. Kevin Crawford

4110 22nd Place Lubbock, TX 79410

(806) 792-4329

Disclaimer:  This information is provided as an educational service, and is not intended as a substitute for medical advice.  Anyone seeking seeking specific medical advice or assistance should consult his or her doctor or orthopedic surgeon.

Sports Injury Rehabilitation

As a natural byproduct, many people - professional athletes or otherwise - who are active in sports occasionally suffer injuries. It's usually not a matter of if, but rather when a sports injury will occur. Depending of the type and severity of injury, you may need to seek professional medical care and then follow a sports injury rehabilitation program.

Professional athletes are highly susceptible to injuries due to extreme wear and tear which is linked with the demands of their competitive sport. However, with possible strained muscles and tendons, any active person can still get injuries. To help prevent many sports-related injuries, establishing a balanced array of exercises in order to maintain flexibility, strength and stability is imperative.

Generally, sports injuries include those injuries involving musculoskeletal system. This includes the tissues, cartilage, bones and the muscles. Each sustained injury can be quite different, and different people heal differently from even similar injuries. Some people take longer to recover from a sports injury, while others recuperate very fast with many factors at play. The main reason why injured people seek sports injury rehabilitation is to assist the injured tissues recuperate in an organized and supervised manner. It is always good to look for the services of experienced physiotherapist to help guide the patient through the best rehab program, and minimize downtime.

This professional will come up with a recovery plan that is effective for you. A physiotherapist will identify what caused the injury and identify a treatment plan in order to treat that particular injury and to prevent future injuries. Knee injuries, sprains, strains and shin splints are some of the most common sports injuries. Obtaining the services of a professional sports doctor or physiotherapist may be warranted for your particular situation.

A physiotherapist is a healthcare professional with extensive training in the musculoskeletal system. He or she will work very closely with athletes to evaluate muscle imbalance, mobility and the functional requirement of a given sport. Apart from creating a treatment plan, a physiotherapist will give you an exercise program that consists of stretching and exercises which will improve your strength. The main function of a physiotherapist is to assist you in balancing rest and exercise in order to recuperate in an ideal manner.

If you earn a living through sports, an injury is the last thing you need. If you do not get the best sports injury rehab, the damage can become worse. A Physiotherapist usually helps in both prevention and treatment of athletic injuries. This treatment, preventive and proactive approach is very important. As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. Do not wait until you get injured, as a physiotherapist can do a lot to save you from injuries - effectively and proactively.  

Remember to live life to its Fullest

Dr. Kevin Crawford

4110 22nd Place Lubbock, TX 79410

(806) 792-4329

Disclaimer:  This information is provided as an educational service, and is not intended as a substitute for medical advice.  Anyone seeking seeking specific medical advice or assistance should consult his or her doctor or orthopedic surgeon.