"Kansas State University"

Kansas State University

Division of public safety

"Lever Arms and Lifting"

Lever Arms and Lifting

Basic understanding of the spinal column

Functions of the disc

Bending – Twisting – Loading

Keys to safe lifting

Get a grip!!!

Slide 3

Slide 4

"Daily stress to the body"

Daily stress to the body

When exposed to high risk activities

If stress > bodies ability to recover

Result is inflammation

Long term exposure = cumulative trauma

"Repetition"

Repetition

Forceful exertion

Awkward and/or sustained postures

Mechanical Stress

Slide 7

"Prevention"

Prevention

Early Intervention

Training

Implementation

Eyes on the floor

Feedback

Slide 9

"Review of the anatomy"

Review of the anatomy

normal curves

bony columns

function of the disc

spinal cord & nerve roots

degenerative issues

Maintain the balance

Slide 11

Slide 12

"Posterior column of support"

Posterior column of support

made up of the facet column

very stable

reflects an upright posture

Anterior column of support

made up of body of vertebra and the disc

less stable

reflects a flexed posture

"The disc is the shock..."

The disc is the shock absorber of the spine

85% water at the age of 15

25% water at the age of 75

Slide 15

Slide 16

"Too much spinal flexion"

Too much spinal flexion

loads the anterior column of support

places the posterior wall of the disc at risk

has the potential for nerve root compromise

Slide 18

Slide 19

"Avoid excessive flexion of the..."

Avoid excessive flexion of the spine

Flexed postures increases your risk of disc and nerve root involvement

Maintain up-right postures - not back bends...

Think posture

"Up-right neutral posture"

Up-right neutral posture

Posterior column of support

Stable = less risk of injury

Slide 22

"Lying flat:"

Lying flat: disc pressure equals 25 psi

Standing: disc pressure equals 100 psi

Sitting erect: disc pressure equals 100 psi

Sitting slouched: pressure equals 150-175 psi

Lifting 25# box from the floor in a flexed posture: disc pressure equals > 400 psi

Slide 24

Slide 25

Slide 26

Slide 27

Slide 28

"Avoid spinal flexion"

Avoid spinal flexion

Avoid twisting

Avoid increasing disc pressure

Avoid reaching

Maintain up-right neutral postures

Hips = shoulders

Elbows at your sides

Keep the load close to your body

Slide 30

Slide 31

"Tendon function:"

Tendon function: transmit force from muscle to bone

Micro tears of tendon occur daily

Typically repair themselves

With repeated loading repair is not adequate

Pain / Inflammation

"Required physical effort"

Required physical effort

Type of grip

Object weight

Distribution of weight

Object dimension

Required posture

Duration of effort

Slide 34

Slide 35

Slide 36

Slide 37

Slide 38

"Prevention is the key"

Prevention is the key

Early intervention

Keep it simple ….. We will get to difficult

Think neutral postures

Decrease heights

Shorten “lever arms”


	Lever Arms and Lifting
	Basic understanding of the spinal column
	Functions of the disc
	Bending – Twisting – Loading
	Keys to safe lifting
	Get a grip!!!


	Daily stress to the body
	When exposed to high risk activities
	If stress > bodies ability to recover
	Result is inflammation
	Long term exposure = cumulative trauma


	Repetition
	Forceful exertion
	Awkward and/or sustained postures
	Mechanical Stress


	Prevention
	Early Intervention
	Training
	Implementation
	Eyes on the floor
	Feedback


	Review of the anatomy
		normal curves
		bony columns
		function of the disc
		spinal cord & nerve roots
		degenerative issues
	Maintain the balance


	Posterior column of support
		made up of the facet column
		very stable
		reflects an upright posture
	Anterior column of support
		made up of body of vertebra and the disc
		less stable
		reflects a flexed posture


	The disc is the shock absorber of the spine
	85% water at the age of 15
	25% water at the age of 75


	Too much spinal flexion
		loads the anterior column of support
		places the posterior wall of the disc at risk
		has the potential for nerve root compromise


	Avoid excessive flexion of the spine
	Flexed postures increases your risk of disc and nerve root involvement
	Maintain up-right postures - not back bends...
	Think posture


	Up-right neutral posture
	Posterior column of support
	Stable = less risk of injury


	Lying flat: disc pressure equals 25 psi
	Standing: disc pressure equals 100 psi
	Sitting erect: disc pressure equals 100 psi
	Sitting slouched: pressure equals 150-175 psi
	Lifting 25# box from the floor in a flexed posture: disc pressure equals > 400 psi


	Avoid spinal flexion
	Avoid twisting
	Avoid increasing disc pressure
	Avoid reaching
	Maintain up-right neutral postures
	Hips = shoulders
	Elbows at your sides
	Keep the load close to your body


	Tendon function: transmit force from muscle to bone
	Micro tears of tendon occur daily
	Typically repair themselves
	With repeated loading repair is not adequate
	Pain / Inflammation


	Required physical effort
		Type of grip
		Object weight
		Distribution of weight
		Object dimension
		Required posture
		Duration of effort


	Prevention is the key
	Early intervention
	Keep it simple ….. We will get to difficult
	Think neutral postures
	Decrease heights
	Shorten “lever arms”