Ego lifting sits at the center of this dementia and brain health question.
Ego lifting is when someone tries to lift weights that are too heavy for them, often just to impress others or boost their own confidence. While it might feel good in the moment, ego lifting can actually cause a lot of problems that keep sending you back to the chiropractor.
When you lift weights heavier than your body can handle, your form usually suffers. Instead of moving smoothly and safely, your body makes jerky movements or uses poor posture to get the weight up. This puts extra stress on your spine and joints because they’re not aligned properly during the lift. Over time, this misalignment can lead to pain in your neck, back, or other areas that a chiropractor needs to fix.
Another issue with ego lifting is poor bracing and breathing techniques. When you don’t stabilize your core correctly or hold your breath at the wrong times during a heavy lift, it increases pressure on your spine unevenly. This imbalance causes strain on muscles and ligaments around the vertebrae, making spinal adjustments necessary more often.
Also important is how quickly people jump into heavy lifts without building strength gradually. Going “too heavy too soon” doesn’t give muscles and connective tissues enough time to adapt safely. The result? Micro-injuries accumulate in soft tissues supporting the spine which leads to chronic discomfort requiring chiropractic care.
Chiropractors often see patients who come in repeatedly because ego lifting has caused recurring issues like slipped discs or muscle spasms from overloading their bodies incorrectly. These problems aren’t just about pain; they affect how well you move day-to-day and limit progress in training if left unchecked.
The key takeaway is that focusing on proper form first—lifting weights appropriate for your current strength level—and learning correct breathing and bracing techniques will protect your spine from damage. This approach reduces visits to chiropractors by preventing injuries rather than fixing them after they happen.
So next time you’re tempted by heavier weights just for bragging rights, remember: respecting what your body can handle today keeps you healthier tomorrow—and out of the chiropractor’s office longer!
For more, see Alzheimer’s Association.
