Caregiver
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Learn how to lift others safely.

You are at greatest risk for back pain when you are pulling a person who is reclining in bed into a sitting position, transferring a person from a bed to a chair, or leaning over a person for long periods of time.

• Always keep the person who is being moved close to your body.
• Keep your feet shoulder-width apart to maintain your balance.
• Use the muscles in your legs to lift and/or pull.
• When you lift or move a person, maintain the proper alignment of your head and neck with your spine. Maintain the natural curve of your spine; don't bend at your waist.
• Avoid twisting your body when carrying a person.
• If the person is too heavy, get help.

Links to other sites with information on this topic:

Lifting Techniques for Caregivers from the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.