7 Tips For Avoiding Muscle Strain While Doing Chores
As if laundry day wasn't dreadful enough, nothing is worse than the instant regret of tweaking your back while lifting your wet bundle from the washer.
You've finally made an effort to be productive, and what do you get in return? A bad back.
That overgrown pile of clothing isn't the only thing out for our health, either. According to Anna Friedman, a doctor of physical therapy and clinic director at RET PT Group of Redmond, Washington, carrying groceries, yard work, painting, doing the dishes, and even mopping floors are common chores that can cause injury.
"Repetitive motions and bad habits are to blame for a lot of these household injuries," Friedman says.
For example, lifting too much weight — especially doing so improperly and repetitively — can strain your back. Exhibit A: relying solely on your lower back by bending at the waist when picking up a bag of soil while gardening.
Rushing — which when mixed with laziness and a lack of thoughtfulness about general movement mechanics — can also place extra stress on muscles and joints.
You can probably relate to twisting an ankle or straining your neck while racing to take a dripping trash bag outside — jerky movements and careless steps are to blame for your pains.
The only thing easier than straining your muscle during a cleanup is implementing the following body adjustments Friedman suggests for surviving day-to-day chores.
