Prevention of Spinal Inuries and
Maintenance Care
by Ron Saltman, D.C.
The set is so quiet you could hear a grip sniffle.
The camera glides in as the actress leans forward closing her
eyes and seductively kisses the handsome star.
"Cut! Print it!" states the director.
"New deal!" yells the A.D.
"Yeow!!" cries the camera operator as he grabs
his lower back. He painfully releases the hand-held Panaflex
into the just-barely-there-in-time arms of his first assistant,
then hobbles off the set. Is there a (real) doctor in the house?
If you’re a camera operator, first assistant
or dolly grip and the scenario above seems like déjà vu
all over again, read on. Having visited a set recently I observed
the activities of the camera operator, first assistant and the
dolly grip, so that I could help you to understand what causes
spinal injury in your work and what you can do to prevent it.
Avoiding injuries and maintaining good spinal
health is critical in today’s job market, especially in the highly
competitive entertainment industry where you make your living
every day.
Once I’d spent a couple of hours observing
a routine shoot and personally handling a camera in a handheld
configuration, it was easy to conclude that all major and most
minor muscle groups are used—and abused—in your daily work with
camera equipment.
CUT TO THE CHASE
Let’s get to some specifics. If you’re a camera
operator using either the fixed eyepiece of an Arriflex IIC or
the Panaflex-X for example on a dolly or a tripod, you must lean
forward (forward flexion), which puts strain on the lower neck
muscles. There will also be prolonged strain on the upper thigh
(quadriceps muscles) due to your semi-squatting position during
many shots. Even during "normal" shots you might find yourself
in the position of bending to the left while thrusting your right
hip laterally. This jams the lower lumbar vertebral joints on
your left side and strains the right lateral hip musculature
(gluteus medius and tensor fascialata). Finally, your neck is
bent over slightly to the left and forward. You probably already
know there is less strain to your neck when using a camera with
an adjustable eye piece.
See: NSAS: #8,9,10,11,16. & LBS:
# 2,8,9,10,13
First assistants must change magazines many
times during the day on an average shoot, which brings your shoulder’s
rotator cuff muscles, in addition to your neck and upper neck
muscles, into play. When you take the handheld camera from the
operator, all of your spinal muscles are used with your lower
back in flexion. Great stress is placed on your lower back muscles.
I would highly recommend that all first assistants and camera
operators wear a lumbar support brace if a lot of handheld shooting
is slated for the day.
See: NSAS: #8,13,16,17,18. & LBS:
#2,8,13,14,15
Using the handheld camera appears to compromise
more muscles and leave the camera operator most susceptible to
injury. Downward shooting uses upper body strength and compromises
the lower back. Rotation (panning) shots can compromise lower
back muscles especially if your feet have to stay in one place
to better facilitate a certain shot. Also in hand-held, be especially
careful of your lower back when you have to arch backwards while
shooting upwards.
See: NSAS: #8,9,11,15,16,18. & LBS:
#2,3,8,9,10,11,13,14.
Grips don’t get off without maintenance coaching
either. You folks are either moving heavy and awkward equipment
and walls or pushing the dolly in forward flexion, which puts
your lower back muscles in a compromising position while mainly
using your upper body strength.
See: LBS: #2,8,9,10,13,15
RAMBO V (BACK IN TRAINING)
From my clinical experience I’ve concluded
that many of my patients need to train for their careers as rigorously
as a professional athlete does. Athletes exercise to perform
better as well as to avoid overuse injuries—traumatic injuries
are often unavoidable but are usually lessened by strength training
and regular preventative care.
Here are some suggestions for better fitness
at work and prevention of injuries:
- Whether you’re a camera operator, first
assistant, dolly grip or electrician you should do a 10–15
minute full body stretching routine before starting your work
day. You should also weight train whenever you’re not working
excessive hours. Try to hit the gym a minimum of two times
per week, and pay particular attention to the following areas
in your workout: neck, mid-back and lower back. Upper body
and leg strength is also very important, specifically: pectorals;
upper trapezius; biceps and triceps; don’t neglect quadriceps
and hamstrings.
- I would suggest having a lumbar brace
and wrist support available when needed.
- Air sole tennis shoes or inserts made with
shock absorbing materials such as Sorbathane will help prevent
or reduce painful feet as well as lower back pain caused by
prolonged standing. If you are having problems with your feet
then custom foot orthotics may be necessary.
PRIME CUT
You should watch your diet too. Do your best
to cut back on foods with sugar. Excessive sugar consumption
can lead to arthritis as well as fatigue and "edgy nerves."
It’s important to keep your weight as close
to normal as possible. Obesity leads not only to fatigue but
to lower back, knee, hip and ankle problems. Eating a diet of
less meat, dairy products and refined foods, choosing instead
more fruits, vegetables, nuts and grains is highly recommended.
Reduce your intake of both saturated fat and high-cholesterol
foods. The most common sources of saturated fat are animal and
whole-milk dairy products. Eat no more than six ounces of animal
protein—including fish—daily. This usually means digging down
deep for the willpower to choose the good stuff from the lunch
caterer when everyone else around you is happily drowning in
massive doses of cholesterol-rich, mega-calorie, mondo-fat foods. DIRECTOR'S CUT
Finally, if you have never seen a chiropractor,
here’s a rundown of what a thorough examination should
include:
Spinal Examination: A check for spinal misalignment
and spinal fixations (vertebrae that don’t move properly),
muscle spasms (trigger points due to lactic acid build up), the
sore and achy feeling.
- X-Rays, for determining:
a. Misalignments
b. Arthritis (i.e., degenerative changes), usually due to old
injuries or poor posture.
c. Spinal anomalies — defects in the vertebrae
- Nutritional Evaluation
a. From case history
b. From nutritional questionnaire
c. Dietary recommendations
d. Recommendation of nutritional supplements
- Treatment
a. Soft tissue mobilization
b. Spinal adjustments
c. Stretching regimen designed for home and work
d. Strengthening exercises
- Counseling about your best choice of daily life activities
- Recommended Nutritional Supplements as needed. Nutritional
evaluation and diet recommendations
INTO THE SUNSET
Now is a good time to begin treating your spine
like any piece of precision equipment that you use on the set.
How smooth a shot would you get with a Steadicamª that is
out of balance? Good maintenance and proper "repair" when
you are out of whack is vital to your health and your career.
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HOW TO SIT UP FROM A LYING
POSITION
Bend both knees and roll over onto
one side. While resting on your side, use your hands to
push yourself up into a sitting position. By using your
hands and arms this way, you take the pressure or stress
off your back. |
HOW TO STRETCH
Stretching should be done slowly without bouncing.
Stretch to where you feel a slight, easy stretch. Hold this feeling
for 5-30 seconds. As you hold this stretch, the feeling of tension
should diminish. If it doesn’t, just ease off slightly Into a
more comfortable stretch. The easy stretch reduces tension and
readies the tissues for the developmental stretch.
After holding the easy stretch, move a fraction
of an Inch farther Into the stretch until you feel mild tension
again. This feeling of stretch tension should also slightly diminish
or stay the same. If the tension increases or becomes painful,
you are overstretching. Ease off a bit to a comfortable stretch.
The developmental stretch reduces tension and will safely Increase
flexibility.
Hold only stretch tensions that feel good to
you. The key to stretching Is to be relaxed while you concentrate
on the area being stretched. Your breathing should be slow, deep
and rhythmical. Don’t worry about how far you can stretch. Relax
and stretch: limberness will become just one of the many by-products
of regular stretching.
Before beginning any exercise program, consult
your health care professional.)
Dr. Saltman is a Motion Picture Health
and Welfare provider. He can be reached at his office in Toluca
Lake, (818) 508-6188, for answers to questions you have about
your own set of spinal stresses or for literature about the
broad-spectrum benefits of chiropractic care. His specialties
include spinal and extremity manipulation, muscle manipulation
and nutritional counseling.
Ron Saltman's Web
site
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