What are Spinal Precautions?
The term “spinal precautions” refers to a set of movements that a surgeon will ask you to avoid after a back injury or back surgery. These precautions are designed to help reduce pain, prevent injury, and promote the healing process. These guidelines are also helpful to follow if you have chronic back pain, as they will reduce motions that may exacerbate that pain. Spinal precautions are fairly universal. The movements to avoid include (the images shown depict what you should NOT do):
1) No Bending
This means no bending at the waist beyond 90*. If you are sitting upright in a chair with your back straight, that is as far as your should lean. This is one of the hardest precautions to abide by, as it means that you will not be permitted to bend and pick something up off the floor, bend over to tie your shoe, or bend to put on your sock.
2) No Lifting
This means that you should avoid lifting anything that weighs more than a gallon milk (approximately 5 pounds). It is helpful to buy household goods in smaller containers or in smaller quantities, and to unload items in several, short trips. Ask for help with lifting to avoid strain and injury.
3) No Twisting
Your back and your feet should always be facing the same direction. This means, no turning sideways to reach for something out of the closet or to look behind you. Take several slow, small steps to turn and fully face the direction you need to look or turn.
An easy way to remember these precautions is to think of the sandwhich “BLT” (Bending, Lifting, Twisting). Spinal precautions can significantly impact the way that you approach self-care tasks and your daily routine. There are adaptive techniques and tools that are available to you to make this process easier and to help maintain your independence. A doctor may prescribe occupational and/or physical therapy to assist with learning new ways to accomplish these tasks. If you have questions, you have the option to request an occupational or physical therapy evaluation from your physician if you have not already been referred. For more information on tips and techniques, visit our other blogs on “How do I Get Dressed with Hip Precautions?” and “What is a Hip Kit?” to learn more. Also check out our YouTube Video “What are Spinal Precautions,” and our “Hip Kit” video series to learn how to use different types of adaptive equipment to help with lower body self-care, as the precautions for a hip replacement are similar to spinal precautions.
* This blog was written with the assistance of Brittany Buck, OTS student with Cabarrus College of Health Sciences Master’s of Occupational Therapy Program.
