It’s more than usual for people to find themselves in “clean up” mode every season, getting their homes ready. There’s an opportunity to do lots of yard work and clean out garages and basements of unwanted clutter. However, it’s important that you maintain proper posture when performing these tasks so that you do not injure your back.
Here are a few steps to help ensure that your back doesn’t bare the brunt of whatever you’re lifting:
- Stand with your feet shoulder width apart.
- Bend your knees and tighten your core (abdominal) muscles to help keep your back straight.
- With your head in an upright position, use your legs to lift the object, keeping it close to your body.
- If the object is too heavy, get help. Performing yard work also has potential to cause harm to your back. If not done properly, which involves a lot of twisting, bending, and lifting, is a common seasonal chore that can cause injury to your back.
Before and while performing any task:
- Warm up your muscles before beginning.
- Switch hands from time to time.
- Take breaks.
Seasonal cleaning is the best way to stay organized. Be sure to practice proper posture when lifting. But if you overdo, call us at (973) 761-0022 to schedule an evaluation so we can help you feel better.
Also keep in mind of our next half hour of health program. It will be on creating a Healthy Life Style through Healthy Relationships with professional life coach Laura Cabral on Wednesday, September 19th at 7:15p.m here at South Orange Chiropractic Center.
