Before beginning a new job on an assembly line, I had to attend a two-day class on how to prevent back injuries. Part of the class was on proper lifting and handling techniques. Has it ever really been proven that lifting in a certain way is good or bad for the back?

Many studies have shown the importance of proper lifting methods. For example, lifting heavy weights from below the waist without bending the knees puts much more pressure on the low back than bending the knees while lifting. Likewise, lifting and holding objects away from the body (with the arms straight) increases the forces through the spine.

Other studies have shown that lifting when the back already hurts increases the stress on the back by up to 75 percent. In the injured worker, at least 10 extra muscles forcefully contract to help protect the back. The overall effect is a powerful compressive force through the spine. This can cause more damage to the spine.