How to Stop Getting Lower Back Pain From Your Weekly Errands
Weekly errands can be a real pain — literally. Experiencing lower back aches every time you have to clean the house, buy groceries, or do the laundry can quickly wear you down physically and mentally. Thankfully, there are ways to reduce this discomfort. If you want to get rid of lower back pain once and for all, take a look at how to protect your spine during two of the most common and strenuous errands.
Reducing Back Pain From Cleaning
Cleaning is often one of the most time-consuming household tasks, particularly if you have a large family with children and pets. Given how much time cleaning can take, it's no surprise that it can be one of the most painful tasks too. To avoid this back pain, it's crucial that you adopt the right posture while cleaning. When you vacuum or mop, avoid bending over to cover large areas of flooring as this can put a lot of strain on your spine. Instead, put one foot forward and bend with your knees — similar to a lunge. For other cleaning tasks like wiping counters or washing dishes, try to keep your body straight and upright without hunching and use the opportunity to do some core exercises. Bracing, holding and releasing your abdominal muscles while cleaning is a great way to strengthen your back and make it more resistant.
Reducing Back Pain From Shopping
Grocery shopping is another errand that many people find particularly painful, and it's mainly due to the heavy lifting involved. If you can reduce the amount of lifting you're doing, you can reduce the back pain that comes with it. Instead of using a basket to carry your items around the shop, use a trolley. Then, when unloading your shopping to your car (and from your car to your house), make several smaller trips instead of carrying too many bags at once. When you do have to lift something heavy, try to put the majority of the weight on your leg and abdominal muscles. Remember to bend your knees rather than your back when lifting, and hold your bags close to your body to reduce the strain on your spine.
If you're still getting back pain after following the tips above, there could be an underlying problem that needs addressing. One natural yet effective way to deal with back pain is to see a chiropractor. Chiropractic care will use a variety of techniques like spinal adjustments and massage to alleviate back pain at its root, ensuring that you can run daily errands in comfort.
For more information, contact a company like Advanced Chiropractic Clinic.