Back Busters Around the Houseby Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger 13 Sep 2007 12:56 PM Suffering from occasional or chronic back pain? The cause might be something around the house. Housework can be a strain on your back -- all that bending and stretching and twisting!
Take a look at your floors, too. Surfaces that have no give can be stressful for your lower back. If you've got ceramic tile or hardwood floors underfoot, you need to give your back a break. Try placing thick, nonskid rugs or mats in the places where you find yourself standing most often -- in front of the sink, by the washer and drier, near the stove, and other places. And if you'll be standing in place for a while, don't stand still. Put one foot on a low stool or shelf and switch off every few minutes. This will help relax tense back muscles and reduce strain. One more thing to check -- your furniture. That soft, cushy sofa might be putting you into a slouch. Studies show that slouching can triple the pressure on the disks in your spine! Use a throw pillow, lumbar roll, or rolled up towel or blanked behind the small of your back to help you sit up straight. Use a foot stool to rest your feet. Remember to keep your chin up -- not tucked against your chest -- while you lounge. And when you're shopping for new furniture, look for sofas and chairs that encourage good posture. You want your feet on the floor, your thighs parallel to the ground, your back supported, and your head centered over your shoulders. Learn more about Aimee Amodio  Aimee is a fiction writer... dog lover... music lover... Relevanthealth tags User Comments No comments on this article yet. Be the first to comment! Community Tags back pain, chronic back pain, housework, posture Discuss this article
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