Question

What is wrong with the way that this man is lifting the box?

1) his feet are flat on the ground.
2) his feet are hip distance apart.
3) he is not bending at the knees.
4) he is trying to lift two boxes at once.

Answer 1

The man is lifting incorrectly because he is not bending at the knees, which can create a force on his back muscles approximately 5.6 times greater than if he lifted with a straight back, risking injury.

Step-by-step explanation:

The issue with the way this man is lifting the box is that he is not bending at the knees. Proper lifting techniques require keeping the back straight and using the legs to lift in order to minimize the force on the spine. When a person lifts with their back bent, as opposed to lifting with a straight back, the force exerted on the back muscles can be about 5.6 times greater than when lifting correctly. This increased force can lead to injury because the spine is relatively weak compared to other parts of the skeletal system, like our hips, knees, and ankles. Therefore, to avoid injury and ensure spinal health, one should maintain a straight back and bend at the knees when lifting heavy objects.