300 Congress St, Suite 304, Quincy, MA 02169

Proper Lifting

How to Lift Without Hurting Your Back

When lifting, maneuver the object close to your body, and use the strength in your LEGS to get the object off the ground, rather than your low back.


Proper Lifting - Single Knee Method

Correct Lifting,home remedies for back pain South Shore, home remedies for neck pain South Shore, home remedies for back pain Boston, home remedies for neck pain Boston, nonsurgical treatment for back pain south shore, nonsurgical treatment for neck pain south shore, nonsurgical treatment for back pain Boston, nonsurgical treatment for neck pain Boston

Start with one knee on the floor, use the strength of your arms to raise the object up onto your mid-thigh, then use the power of your legs to stand up.


Proper Lifting - Squat Method

Sitting Down Heavy Objects,home remedies for back pain South Shore, home remedies for neck pain South Shore, home remedies for back pain Boston, home remedies for neck pain Boston, nonsurgical treatment for back pain south shore, nonsurgical treatment for neck pain south shore, nonsurgical treatment for back pain Boston, nonsurgical treatment for neck pain Boston

An alternate way to lift is to position the object in between your knees. Keeping your back straight and arms extended, begin to stand up using the power of your leg muscles, rather than your back, to generate the lifting force.


Incorrect Lifting

Incorrect Lifting Technique,home remedies for back pain South Shore, home remedies for neck pain South Shore, home remedies for back pain Boston, home remedies for neck pain Boston, nonsurgical treatment for back pain south shore, nonsurgical treatment for neck pain south shore, nonsurgical treatment for back pain Boston, nonsurgical treatment for neck pain Boston

Note that the left image above shows the incorrect stance for lifting. This posture is dangerous because of the unnecessary strain it puts on the back.


Have you ever heard of anyone straining a thigh muscle while lifting? Hardly ever. That is because the muscles in the legs are longer, stronger, in better shape and more resistant to strain. The muscles and ligaments in the back are shorter and prone to muscle spasm.

Dr. Richard Mazzaferro

Board-certified Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Dr. Richard Mazzaferro is a board-certified specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation with more than 10 years experience in spine. Dr. Mazzaferro is proficient in the use of lumbar and cervical interventional pain procedures. In 2002, he finished his residency training at the Harvard Medical School’s Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. He is the founder of Quincy Spine Center.

Understanding Symptoms

Pain is not a good indicator of when to see a doctor for a spine problem. While a back spasm can be excruciating, the good news is that ligament strain doesn’t require surgery.

Quincy Bundled Rate

Find out more about a simple 20 minute office procedure — at a $500 bundled rate — that can eliminate the need for spine surgery.

Home Remedy Book

Get our 36-page Home Remedy Book that has special stretches that relieve many pain symptoms.