Why is it possible to throw out my back just by picking up a pencil?
Wednesday, August 27, 2008 - 17:56
in Physics & Chemistry
Muscles are capable of providing an amazing amount of stability to the spine; a normal human spine can experience compressive loads of up to about 1,350 pounds during more demanding everyday tasks (9), and almost 4,000 pounds during something like Olympic weightlifting (2). So why can you hurt your back just by bending down to pick up a pencil? The simple answer is that spinal stability is not a simple function of muscular force. STOP! Don't pick up that pencil! Read More...
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