Cause 4: Physical Strain and Heavy Lifting
While the human body is a marvel of strength, there are limits to what it can endure. Activities involving intense physical exertion, especially heavy lifting, dramatically increase intra-abdominal pressure. This sudden surge in pressure, especially if repetitive, poses challenges to the diaphragm.
Under normal circumstances, the diaphragm efficiently plays its role as a separator of the thoracic and abdominal cavities. However, when subjected to excessive strain from activities like lifting, it bears the brunt of increased internal pressures. Over time, and especially if lifting techniques are incorrect, this can lead to its weakening.
Repeated strains, especially when lifting heavy objects improperly, can incrementally weaken the diaphragm. It’s akin to bending a piece of metal back and forth – with each bend, it gets closer to breaking. Similarly, each strain on the diaphragm makes it more prone to herniation. (4)
