|
Take Care Of Your Back
Take Care of Your Back and It Will Take Care of You
As a homemaker, you spend a lot of time everyday on your feet. Your job can be physically rigorous, and a sore back can really slow you down. Many people don’t think about taking care of their back during day to day activities until it’s too late. If, you’ve ever been laid up for a few days because you tried to move something that was too heavy, or because you twisted in an awkward direction, then you know just how frustrating an injury like this can be.
There are several preventative steps that you can take during your daily routine which will help you take better care of your back. At first it may seem awkward, but soon they will become habits, and you will notice how much easier it is to do things.
Remember, when lifting things, to keep them close to your body. To demonstrate the point, take a full gallon of milk and hold it close to your body. Then extend your arm and hold it away from you. Do you notice how much more strain you put on yourself when you hold it far away? You may not think about this as you move smaller things countless times a day, but the strain and stress adds up. By keeping objects close to you, you greatly reduce the amount of work that your back has to do to keep you stabilized.
Another subtle movement that we all make many times a day, usually without even thinking about it, is a twisting movement. Picture yourself standing at the kitchen counter needing to move a heavy tray to the opposite counter. Instead of picking it up and twisting your torso to move the tray, make sure you move with your feet. In other words, take steps and actually turn your whole body around instead of just relying on your back to transition the weight. This is probably the most common way that people hurt their backs during everyday household activities. Remember to move your feet!
This third step will also help you protect your lower back as you are lifting things. Remember to bend your knees when you are getting something off of the floor. Don’t bend at the waist, as this forces you to use your lower back muscles to stand back up. The stress on the muscles is increased when you try to bend back up straight with something in your hands. Bend your knees and let your legs do some of the work. Typically, they are much stronger than your back, and are designed to do more heavy lifting.
There are no 100% guaranteed methods to prevent hurting yourself. As an active person though, you need be cognizant of how you move so that your body will be ready to perform some strenuous tasks when you ask it to. Keep these three things in mind and you will have taken some positive steps towards living a life free of back pain.
|
