Activities of Daily Living
Starting an exercise program is just one important step in taking
charge of your health. Proper nutrition and routine visits to your physician
are other vital ingredients to a healthy life. One area of our life is often
overlooked. It is what we do each day.
While exercising, we focus on posture and strength. But what about
the rest of the day? Do we bend or lift properly? Even people who exercise
regularly are susceptible to household injuries.
To help prevent needless injuries here are some suggestions for
safely performing some daily living activities
Vacuuming, Mopping, Raking
For all daily activities, it is important to avoid bending forward
from the waist. Use your hips and knees to bend.
Maintain the arch in your low back during daily activities. Avoid
twisting and especially the combination of forward bending and twisting. It is
always better to push rather than pull an object if you have the choice.
Technique
·
Use the momentum and power of your legs to perform the motion.
·
If you are moving an object forward and backwards – such as a
vacuum – have one leg in front of the other, knees bent, and rock from foot to
foot while maintaining your spine in a lengthened position.
·
If you are moving an object – such as a mop – sideways, rock from
leg to leg sideways, knees bent, while maintaining your spine in a lengthened
position
Sitting with Support
Many years ago, when I was teaching typing, one of the first lessons
I taught was not about where to put your fingers, but how to sit properly. Many
people in our society sit in a slumped position that rounds the lower back.
This posture puts forceful pressure on the lower back, upper back, head and
neck regions and can lead to injury over time.
Technique
When sitting, your feet should be flat on the floor. Ideally, you
should have a chair that is adjustable for height.
If not, a footrest can be used under your feet.
Your normal lower back curve should be supported by the chair. To
do this, the chair's back should curve slightly forward. This support is
necessary to avoid slumping. If your chair does not have low back support,
you can place a lumbar roll or rolled towel in the small of your lower back for
support.
It is very important to get up frequently from sitting — at least
once an hour. Remember to sit with your spine lengthened, with your head
floating up, and your shoulders wide. Good sitting habits are more important
than chair design.
When driving
The same principles hold true when you are driving. Some cars have lumbar support in the seat which you should adjust to support your lower back
curve. You can also use a towel roll or a portable lumbar roll if your car seat
does not give you adequate back support.
