Common Mistakes in Weight Lifting Cause Back Pain

Based in Abilene, Paul W. McDonough, MD, employs minimally invasive techniques in serving the needs of spine surgery patients across Texas’ Big Country. Paul McDonough, MD, engages personally with patients in helping them understand the basics of back pain and what can be done to prevent it occurrence. 

One common place where back issues begin is in the gym, with weightlifters who employ improper techniques ultimately paying the consequences. With deadlifting, lower back pain is relatively common and often begins from not engaging the latissimus dorsi (lats), which represent the largest muscles in the back. 

Offering the upper back and spine stability, the lats should be engaged in a way that generates tension before each lift. The way to ensure proper lateral tension is to pretend that a sponge or an orange is being squeezed in the armpit. Failure to do this can lead to a back that rounds as force is transferred from lower body to upper body. The end result is significant back strain and pain. 

A related mistake involves not bending the knees far enough, which leads to bending at the waist. This can not only impact the back, but also prevent a proper “wedge” position that provides maximum lifting power.

PRESTIGE Cervical Disc Replacement - A Treatment Alternative

 

Paul W. McDonough, MD, has practiced as a spine surgeon in Abilene, Texas, since 2001. Dr. Paul McDonough offers patients access to a number of advanced disc replacement and implant technologies, including the PRESTIGE Cervical Disc.

The PRESTIGE Cervical Disc offers relief from the symptoms of degenerative disc disease in the neck. This condition occurs when trauma, disease, or the aging process causes the cervical discs to dry up and lose volume, thus placing extra pressure on the surrounding vertebrae and nerves. Damaged discs also run the risk of rupturing, which adds additional pressure to the nerve roots and causes pain, weakness, or numbness.

For patients with cervical disc disease, surgery can serve as a way to keep vertebrae from rubbing against one another when the disc between has become damaged. Traditionally, surgery has involved fusing the vertebrae in question so that they cannot shift position, though this approach severely limits the patient's range of motion. The PRESTIGE Cervical Disc offers the alternative of an articulating disc replacement, which allows the vertebrae to continue to move without causing structural damage.

Reasons to Pick Up a Biography

First in his surgery class and winner of the Longmire Medal during his time at UCLA, Paul W. McDonough, MD, is an Abilene, Texas, spine surgeon who specializes in lumbar, thoracic, and cervical spinal surgery. Dr. Paul McDonough is an avid reader of biographies in his spare time.

When choosing your next read, consider picking up a biography. Biographies feature real people doing real things and often cover inspirational stories of overcoming challenges and making a difference. These stories can inspire and uplift, and they promote self-discovery. As readers interact with stories of others, it helps to build empathy through the reader’s viewing of the world from a different perspective. Some tales feature unsavory characters, which also provides a cautionary narrative of what not to do.

Within the context of a real-life story, history comes alive. Key events in history become actual moments that affect the character in real ways, helping the reader to better remember and digest historic information.

Biographies can appeal to a broad range of reader interests from history or culinary arts to current fashion trends or politics.