Household chores are a part of everyday routine for most of us. Doing household chores can be taxing and cause immense strain on your spine. While some may have the luxury to deploy the work to domestic help but others may have to juggle it on own. Spine and Sports Clinic brings in some respite with tips to keep the load off your back. Whether you are a newbie or a ninja at doing household chores, follow these tips to keep the strain off your back. Spine and Sports Clinic encourages its followers to stay home and stay safe in support of the lock down.
TIPS FOR DOING HOUSEHOLD CHORES WITHOUT DAMAGING YOUR BACK
- Washing dishes
Most of the houses have a deep sink and while reaching the pile of utensils in that deep sink and cleaning it, a huge pressure is created on the spine.
Tips to keep in mind: A great fix for reliving the strain on the spine while cleaning the dishes is to place a small stool under the sink (inside the cabinet if need be) and place your one foot on it. This will take some pressure off your back. You can also use this technique while ironing and washing walls.
- Using a Broom or Vacuum
The most common mistake that people do while cleaning the floor is, they bend using the vacuum or broom. Also, they try to stay in one fixed position with their feet planted and twist from waist to reach all directions. These actions can cause immense pressure on the spine and cause a build up for back pain.
Tips to keep in mind: The correct method is to take a one foot forward in a partial lunge position and keep the back straight while reaching the floor with the broom or vacuum. If you need to reach different direction then do not turn from your waist instead turn the whole body in that direction. Keep your hips and shoulders aligned.
- Washing Clothes using a Washing Machine
Washing machines have really been a great boon to lighten the load of cleaning clothes. But some common mistakes that people do can cause damage to your spine. Lifting piles of laundry while putting it in and out of the machine causes pressure on the back. Bending your waist to pick clothes from the bottom of your top load washing machine’s drum can strain your spine and back muscles.
Tips to keep in mind: In the interest of the well-being of your spine, it is advisable to do small batches of laundry which is easy to lift. To pick a cloth from the bottom of the washing machine’s drum use the Golfer’s lift technique, which essentially is lifting the opposite leg in the air while picking the cloth from one hand. For more support you can place the other free hand on a nearby surface.
