PSA: My back gave out after a long competition weekend.

I've been doing BBQ contests for about five years now. Last weekend, I was moving my smoker to pack up after the event. I must have twisted wrong because my back locked up. Now I can barely stand for more than an hour. It's really messing up my cooking plans. I think I need to learn better ways to lift heavy stuff. Do you guys have tips for avoiding this? What kind of warm-ups or rest breaks work for you?

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3 Comments

hunt.pat6mo ago

Ugh, I feel your pain. In my experience, I threw my back out last year hauling a packed cooler to a tailgate. Take this with a grain of salt, but I now try to stretch my hamstrings and lower back for a few minutes before I move heavy gear. Your mileage may vary, but setting a timer for short breaks every twenty minutes helps me a lot. I also focus on bending my knees and keeping the load close, which makes a big difference. It's a rough way to learn, but you'll figure out what works for you.

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the_anna6mo ago

Static stretches before heavy lifting can be risky if your muscles aren't warmed up. I've found that light cardio first prevents strain better. Just my two cents.

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the_anna6mo ago

On job sites, we avoid static stretches before heavy lifts. While hunt.pat is spot on about breaks and knee bending, stretching cold hamstrings can sometimes cause more strain. I warm up with five minutes of light cardio, like brisk walking around the parking lot. Then I practice the lifting motion with no weight, bending my knees and keeping my back straight. This gets the muscles ready without the risk of tearing. After years of moving equipment, I've found this routine keeps my back safe.

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