Dealing with Heavy Scuba Gear
Dive equipment, with its cumbersome bulk, lends itself to create the exact type of stress that puts the lower back at risk. A day of picking up tanks and gear bags places a heavy strain on the connective tissues that hold your vertebrae and discs in place.
All dive gear can be properly managed with the right precautions and tools. The following guidelines will reduce (but not eliminate) the chance that you end your diving on the surface:
1. Whenever possible, set your gear up on a bench, table, or tailgate. The more vertical you keep your back when lifting, the less sheer load you will place on your spine. Even the weight of your own body can cause you injury from hunching over your gear as you set it up. So, it is best to set your workspace as high as possible.
2. If you must lift an object off the ground, arch your lower back to pre-engage the muscles protecting the spine. You should look like you’re sticking your butt out, though this may attract comments from onlookers, this is the same technique used to set powerlifting records and can make the difference between a successful lift and an injured back. Be certain to tighten the abdominal muscles, which support the spine from the front.
3. When participating as surface support for a diving expedition, don't let any one person bear the burden of placing multiple heavy loads. Back injuries are most commonly repetitive stress injuries. Use carts or hand trucks to transport gear to the water, and trade out between pulling carts and unloading gear.
4. No matter how strong you are, you can greatly reduce your risk by asking for help when placing heavy gear onto a cart or into the water. This is not the time to play tough.