What effect occurs when you keep your back straight and your knees bent while lifting a heavy object?

• A. It reduces strain on your back
• B. It increases strain on your back
• C. It makes the object heavier
• D. It has no effect

Answer: (A)

Maintaining a neutral spine and bending the knees engages the large leg muscles to lift, rather than relying on the back. This shifts most of the load to the thighs and buttocks and keeps the load close to your center of gravity, which reduces the bending moment and spinal strain. In short, the back experiences less stress when you keep it straight (not rigid) and use your legs to lift. If the object is heavy, ask for help or use assistive devices to protect the back. The other ideas aren’t accurate: this technique does not make the weight heavier, and it does have a meaningful effect on reducing strain.