Eli5 How do you not lift with your back? Won’t there always be strain on your back?
In: Physics
The idea is for the load to be along the axis of your spine. That is, the force should compress your vertebrae together because that’s what they are designed to do. Off-axis force puts an unusual strain on the muscles in your back and will make injury far more likely.
However, please do lift with your back (as long as you do it properly). Strong back muscles are the best way to avoid injury and many people have bad backs precisely because they will not strengthen those muscles. Don’t lift with your back is some of the worst unqualified advice I have ever received and led to years of back pain before my common sense kicked in.
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