Your Back And Household Chores |
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| Written by Dr. David Fishkin, DC, MPH | |
| Friday, 19 September 2008 | |
Your Back Hates Household ChoresHi, I'm your chiropractor, and your back called me the other day complaining about all those household chores you are doing. I know you wish I could tell you just to hire a housekeeper and bill it to your insurance company, but I guess it won't work that way. Instead I haveAt the counter: Washing dishes, chopping vegetables, even brushing your teeth-- all hazardous! Scared? It's just the counter height, it is likely not the perfect fit for your body. It should be belt level. Bend your elbows and shrug, it should reach the bottom. So either re-do your kitchen, buy some platform shoes, OR you can relieve some of that pressure by raising one leg. Not like a dog, but propped up, knee bent, on a stool. Or open a cabinet door and use the ledge to prop your leg. Vacuuming: Unless you have a roomba, you will benefit from learning to vacuum in a manner that your back will tolerate. Instead of pushing and pulling quickly, twisting your back, take your time. Extend your arm and if you take a step forward and back, you can rotate full body. Just be aware of that twisting and extending, and avoid it as you go. The Tub: Ouch, it hurts just thinking about you leaning over all bent in half, reaching and reaching inside. Instead, just get inside the tub and squat or stand. Cleaning the fan: or painting the ceiling. Reaching again, up above with outstretched arms. Arching your back increases the pressure. Choose a tall ladder that is the appropriate height for the job you are doing. Laundry time: Stop carrying the dirty laundry in a basket down a flight of stairs. Many reasons to avoid this: #1 You cannot see your feet and risk falling. Your back will hate you if you do that. #2 Your arms are outstretched increasing your back pressure. #3 You may tend to sway your back, adding undue pressure. Instead, toss them in a bag and let it roll down the stairs. It's ok to bring the laundry back upstairs in a basket if you must, because it is not as painful falling up the stairs facing them as it is facing down the stairs and falling backward or forward and downward. How to lift: Nope, I'm not going to say squat. That moves your center of gravity forward, stretching out, straining the back. The healthy way to lift is to actually kneel down, with one knee on the floor and one bent, then raise up strongly. Just a few adjustments to avoid those chiropractic adjustments.
Authors Bio:
Dr. David Fishkin, DC, MPH is a well respected Maryland chiropractor at The Center for Low Back Pain in Bethesda, MD. He specializes in lower back pain and has helped numerous clients eliminate chronic back pain.
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