The muscles of the back can be strained with heavy lifting, and discs may herniated, causing inflammation of adjacent nerve roots. Gentle stretching and moderate exercise are recommended to strengthen the muscles of the back to prevent injury.

Want to prevent back pain? Be cautious lifting. Lifting and twisting are the two movements that cause most spine problems. Not surprisingly, garbage collectors have the highest rate of back injury of all occupations.

If you have to lift, learn to use proper body mechanics. Use the navigation bar on the left and click on "Lifting without Pain" to see a description of how to safely lift objects.