POWERLIFT:
Lifting Techniques For A Healthy Back
PROGRAM SYNOPSIS:
Most workers have been instructed to lift objects safely by using the “old way” of lifting; unfortunately, this method
contains many flaws that result in unnecessary and very harmful stress on our backs. Lifting while balancing on the balls
of our feet, too much bending of the knees, leverage that places excessive force on the lower back and overextending the
spine beyond its base of support are all problems associated with this approach. To eliminate the harmful effects of the
old way of lifting, Dr. Mike Schaefer, a licensed orthopedic and chiropractic doctor, has developed the PowerLift
technique. This program demonstrates how to combine various lifts and postures associated with Dr. Schaefer’s
PowerLift technique to overcome the real world challenges presented by many material handling situations.
Topics include flaws of traditional lifting techniques, advantages of a wider stance, creating a basic PowerLift, the “tip the
load” technique, the bridging technique, the tripod lift, the golfer’s bend, the lean bar technique and performing PowerLift
pushes and pulls.
PROGRAM OUTLINE:
FIVE POWERLIFT LIFTING TECHNIQUES
• PowerLift is not just a new way of lifting; it’s a new way to think about lifting, where every lift is a safe lift.
• From the basic PowerLift position, five different lifting techniques have been derived that can be used in a variety of
lifting situations: the basic PowerLift, the “tip the load” PowerLift, the tripod PowerLift, the golfer’s bend and the lean
bar lift.
FLAWS OF TRADITIONAL LIFTING TECHNIQUES
• Those trained in PowerLift like to call traditional lifting techniquesthe “old way” of lifting.
• The old way of lifting instructs us to “approach the load and place your feet shoulder width apart. Then, bend your
knees and grasp the load.” This is where the problems start. In this position, we find that we must rock onto the balls of
our feet.
• Lifting anything while balancing on the balls of your feet is an awkward, weak and unstable position.
• If we examine the knees while in this position, we see that a deep knee bend is required in order to squat into our
lifting position. This old way of lifting typically requires a 65-degree bend of the knees.
• When knees are bent this much, the lifting power of the legs is significantly reduced,making it very difficult to stand
back up again.
• One universal key to safe lifting is to keep the load close to your body, but in this position, we can’t keep the load
close to us because our knees and legs get in the way.
• When we attempt to rise with the load, while awkwardly balanced on the balls of our feet, we inevitably must push the
load away from us as we rise; in order to clear our knees.
• Anytime a load gets out in front of your body, like this, the leverage created places much more force onto the lower
back and can be very damaging.
• Lifting a load like this, which we call “back lifting”, is very harmful because the spine is overextended beyond its base
of support, much like a large construction crane. However, unlike a crane, the spine is not reinforced to support loads in
this orientation, the result being large and harmful forces placed on the delicate discs, vertebrae and other spinal
structures.
• Another way to think about it is to pretend that you were designing a lifting robot. Would you make your robot have a
deep knee bend and use a “crane-style” back lift, knowing that this would place excessive wear and tear on the knee joint
