back injuries

[MichaelStewart]

Like anything in this world, operating/lifting/pulling improperly can cause damage. I personally am amazed, at how much stronger my back is today with a little over a year and a half of operating, I just made sure I paid attention to my posture and put it down whenever I was not operating, I can now stay in it for well over an hour straight. I can really notice the difference in my back when I would carry my 4 yearold long distances aftr he would get tired of walking, It has done wonders for my back, not that I am reallllly old, but i was 37 when i started and not in the best shape, anyway, the key is proper posture and keeping the rig as close to your body as often as possible.

 

 

 

Mike

[Markus Rave]

Thomas,

 

sorry I did not get back earlier but hope you still want an explanation. I´ll try to make it short.

 

If you leave your knee in always the same position for a prolongued period of time it compresses on a very small spot of the upper leg joint with the lower part of the leg. You could imagine a rubber wheeled cart stands still heavily loaded. After a day you roll the cart and encounter a bump where the wheel has set on the ground for that time. This will go away after a while and so the knee does take a lot of hits before reacting with health problems you encounter. A more physiologic way would be moving the knee whilst long stands using and compressing different parts of the round surface and allowing the body to "grease" the joint while doing that. Also I would not recommend bowing the knee back to release your muscles for some time but keeping them bend all the time. To understand the reason you must know that the radius of the curve of the femur (upper leg bone) gets smaller when you stand your knees straightened all the way. Also you put more pressure on to the joint since musle power is weaker when the knee is straight and thus helps less in carrying the weight.

 

To make it really short: build up you leg muscles (bicycle uphill is the weapon) when you´re set up try to move your knees, if you can´t leave the leg bowed. Never stand straight the knee bowed back for a prolongued time.

 

Markus

[Peter Abraham]

:) You guys are too kind.

 

To set the record straight, I did break my back. I have a rather large fracture of the L-3 which is stable and cannot break the rest of the way. Not nearly a hairline, it broke open like a pita bread being torn open. Such is life......

 

Anyway, I fly a rig that can handle 5-15 lbs of camera payload. That's just about all I can tolerate pain-wise. I have worn a Flyer for 6-7 HOURS in a day, day after day, doing demos for Tiffen at trade shows. I mean IN the rig. No problem at all.

 

Similarly, before my injury, I'd put in a 16-20 hour day on a music video, day after day.

 

Here is the short line from me: If you truly work at perfecting a good "flying the rig" stance and take the cautionary steps mentioned by our esteemed colleagues here, you will face a long career with no back damage. None at all. Yes, folks get worn and hurt sometimes. Yes, guys get into a rig and haven't quite taken the time to really hone the basic skills--- and they pay. I know a fellow who is in such amazingly good physical shape, it's scary. He is an ex- US Marine. The boy's buff, ok? He got himself into an EFP rig a few years ago, and suffered badly with hip and back pains. Didn't stay with the EFP and sold it. I have to respect his dedication and efforts. It just didn't work out for him- and, although I admire the man and would never give him a rough time over his choice- I always felt that he didn't spend enough time truly perfecting the basics of the craft.

 

( I am not trying to pimp workshops here- it's a basic given that we all need training from experienced ops. )

 

Long hours in a full sized rig with a 535B are NOT the stuff of injuries. Short shots with a light video camera in an EFP can be painful. It all depends on how carefully you listen to your body as you learn to finesse flying a Steadicam.

 

The other basics have been covered here and in other threads dedicated to endurance. Hydration. Stretching. Rest, and passing the sled off to a helpful grip for the long walk back after a long take. Own a second docking bracket and use it for long shots. And, so on.

 

Take it from a person who lives with lower spine pain every waking moment, and is still operating a Steadicam safely and effectively. Do it right and you will not injure your back.

 

Do it better than just right, and people will ask you to come back and shoot for them again !! :)

 

Best to all,

Peter Abraham

New York