The Bottom Line: Squat vs Stoop Lifting: Which is Safer?

Humantech ergonomist Blake McGowan shares the ground-breaking results from a 2016 study that measured the spinal loads during both squat and stoop lifting in this month’s bottom line video.

The German researchers found:

1. Lifting an object from the ground results in significant spinal loading regardless if it was a squat or stoop lift.
2. The spinal forces were the same for both. In fact, the forces were 4 percent greater for a squat lift.

Dreischarf M, Rohlmann A, Graichen F, Bergmann G, Schmidt H.  (2016).  In vivo loads on a vertebral body replacement during different lifting techniques.  J Biomech. 2016 Apr 11;49(6):890-5.

 van Dieën JH, Hoozemans MJ, Toussaint HM. (1999).  Stoop or squat: a review of biomechanical studies on lifting technique.  Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon). 1999 Dec;14(10):685-96.