Spring time is the perfect time to get the house in order. The evenings are lighter, the weather is drier and warmer and bank holiday weekends for extra time to throw yourself into that bit of decorating or spring cleaning you’ve been talking about for ages!
What we must all remember is that those jobs you have planned, no matter how big or small, are types of physical activity. This is a good thing; your body will thank you for being active! However, it is also a classic time for those little niggles to aggravate or for your body to shout ‘SOS’. These incidents are most common in people who are not used to being physically active day to day, those that have not fully prepared their bodies for the job at hand and those that have suffered previous injuries.
Here are some helpful hints and tips to ensure your body avoids those DIY disasters:
- Taking care of your back begins before you get your hands dirty. Do some warm up exercises to get your muscles ready for the task ahead. Rolling the shoulders forwards and backwards and in large circular movements will prepare the upper body. By lying on the floor and pulling your knees up to your chest you can stretch and prepare your lower back. Simply leaning your neck slowly from side to side (ear towards shoulder) can warm your neck up too.
- Ensure that you are using the right equipment for the task at hand. This will mean that the equipment does the work for you, reducing the strain on your body.
- Set yourself up in the correct position for the job. Use ladders, stools, long handled equipment to avoid overreaching. Overreaching will put extra strain on your lower back and upper body. It will also tire your body out more quickly, leaving you prone to injury. Also make sure that you vary your position regularly to keep your body mobile and prevent stiffness.
- We all know how the hours can run away with you when you are working hard on your home and trying to get a job done. However, remember that regular breaks are a must for your body and it will allow you to work for longer overall. Plus, they will give you time to sit back and enjoy your handy work!
- Back pain sufferers need to take extra care when doing DIY. Great care must be taken when moving furniture or awkward objects, always seek help if you know it is a heavy task.
We hope this information provides you with some of the tools you need to prevent back problems this Spring and in the years to come. If you experience pain whilst working on your home, speak to your chiropractor or call to book an appointment. See our contacts page to find your nearest clinic or call our Taunton clinic on 01823 333973 and the reception team will be happy to help you.