Your spine is the central support for your entire body. It allows you to move, bend, and lift. But it's also vulnerable, especially during manual handling tasks. By learning about how the spine works, you’ll see why proper lifting techniques are essential.

Basic Anatomy of the Spine

The spine is made up of 33 small bones called vertebrae. These are stacked on top of each other.

There are 4 regions of the Spine:

1. Cervical Spine (Neck region) – 7 vertebrae
2. Thoracic Spine (Upper back region) – 12 vertebrae
3. Lumbar Spine (Lower back region) – 5 vertebrae
4. Sacrum and Coccyx – Fused bones at the base of the spine

Between each vertebra is a spinal disc, like a jelly-filled cushion. These absorb shock and help the spine move smoothly.

Strong back muscles and ligaments support the spine and allow movement, but they can be strained by poor posture or lifting incorrectly.