Lifting weights has many benefits such as increasing muscle mass, reducing body fat, improving overall health and wellness etc. However, weight lifting places a lot of stress and strain on the back and spine which can easily result in many injuries. Some of which may require working with an established Orange County spine surgeon.
Once you engage in weight lifting, it is essential that you properly protect your back by using weights that you can handle and proper form. We will now dive into three of the most common back injuries that you can develop by lifting weights.
1. Back Sprains
It is very easy to experience back sprains if you lift heavy weights. A back sprain can occur when the ligaments in your back become torn or stretched. You can potentially get a back sprain by engaging in exercises such as rows, deadlifts, bench presses etc.
Once the exercise requires you to bend forward or backward then it is easy to get a back sprain. In order to prevent this from occurring, it is important that you sufficiently warm up your muscles before you start lifting heavy weights. If you start your workout without warming up, the abruptness of doing so can easily cause sprains since your body and muscles are stiff.
2. Herniated Discs
Your spine is made up of vertebrae which have discs between them. These discs are gel-like and you can get herniated discs from lifting weights. Basically, when this happens, the discs become damaged or move out of place. They can even rub on your spinal nerve which can lead to feelings of numbness in the butt or legs. You can get herniated discs by lifting weights that are too heavy and stress the back too much.
One particular exercise that can cause you to get herniated discs is deadlifting. In order to prevent getting herniated discs, it is essential that you use your legs more than your back when lifting. Always strive to engage your core when lifting and keep good form.
What To Do If You Have Back Pain
If you are experiencing back pain that hasn’t stopped after a few days, you should definitely visit a doctor or a spine surgeon. They will be able to determine the type of back injury that you have as well as formulate a treatment plan to help resolve the issue. With that said, prevention is always better than cure.
If you are determined to lift weights on a regular basis, make sure that you:
- Take the time to warm up and stretch, especially your hamstrings
- Engage your core
- Keep good form while lifting
engage your core and legs as well as keep good form while lifting. We at Hamid Mir M.D., a certified spine surgeon in Newport Beach, CA have a great guide to exercising with lower back pain as well.