5 Household Chores That May Be Hurting Your Back

When you think of back and spine injuries, your mundane daily responsibilities might not be the first thing that comes to mind. While skateboarding or rock climbing seems more likely for fractures or sprains, the routine chores are leading causes of irritation and inflammation in the back.

If you suffer from chronic or persistent back pain, these tasks may be challenging and dangerous if performed without care. However, demonstrating proper lifting and bending techniques as well as exercising more will strengthen your back muscles and decrease your risk for severe back injuries.

You May Be Hurting Your Back With These 5 Household Chores

We bend and twist in all directions as we cook, clean, and carry out everyday activities. Lifting boxes or cleaning the fish tank all require movement and put stress on the body. Understanding how these activities affect our health can help us make better choices when performing our duties.

Doing the Laundry

Lifting dirty clothes into a basket and then lugging it to and from the washer and dryer is both tiring and straining on the back muscles. Even folding and putting away clean laundry may irritate your neck, back, and spine if you’re hunched over in a harmful position. Practicing proper lifting and bending techniques will decrease the risk of injuries.

Cleaning the Floor

Vacuuming a carpet, sweeping a patio, or mopping the kitchen down are all performed while you’re looking at the ground. Many individuals unconsciously tilt their necks and backs down as they watch where to clean. Purchasing equipment that promotes better posture and stretching before you start a battle with dust are great ways to improve your back strength.

Washing Windows, Cars, or Pets

Scrubbing down some of the dirtiest parts of your home takes a boost of energy. From chasing a soapy dog to battling with dried bird waste, washing these is equivalent to running a marathon. Lifting and bending in all directions put your back and spine at risk. To better protect your vertebrae, take small breaks and stretch while you’re busy with the task.

Grocery Shopping

Grocery shopping requires a person to lift and carry heavy items back and forth between the store, car, and into the home. Even lifting something as light as toilet paper from the lower shelves may require you to bend in an odd direction. Practicing proper lifting and bending moves is extremely important for this chore.

Gardening and Yard Work

Spending hours hunched over weeding or mowing the lawn is not only dangerous for your back but also puts you at risk of dehydration and heat exhaustion. As you move throughout the day, your spine compresses and squeezes out the water within discs between each vertebra. Staying hydrated replenishes those pockets and allows the spine to decompress and move easier.

When you’re dehydrated, the discs cannot refill with water and grind together causing inflammation and irritation. Listed below are some ways to keep yourself hydrated while you perform household chores:

• Keep a reusable water bottle by your side.
• Set alarms that go off when you need to take sips of water.
• Snack on foods with high water content like cucumber and watermelon.

Finding fun and innovative ways to remind yourself to drink water and stretch are great for keeping your back muscles healthy.

Look to Professionals at Orthopedic & Laser Spine Surgeons for Your Spinal Recovery

While Rumba and Instacart lessen the number of chores we’re obligated to perform each week, there are still many responsibilities that require physical commitment. If you’re struggling with chronic neck, back, and spine pain and find it challenging to execute daily tasks, talk to experts at Orthopedic & Laser Spine Surgeons.

Our team of board-certified neurologists, neurosurgeons, orthopedic specialists, and physicians use the finest technology to perform non-surgical and minimally invasive surgeries that assist with a patient’s recovery. At Orthopedic & Laser Spine Surgeons, our primary goal is to reduce patients’ pain and improve their condition.

Call (855) 853-6542 or fill out our online contact form for detailed information about the types of treatments we offer and how we can help your journey to a healthy and happy back.