We often picture back pain developing as a result of severe acute trauma, like what we might experience during athletics or in the event of a car accident. While those are certainly common causes of back injuries, many instances of back pain develop for far less intense reasons. In fact, certain activities around the house can be big contributors to spine pain. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at some common causes of back pain around the house, and we share some tips for how you can keep your back safe during these activities.
Household Activities And Back Pain
It may be obvious how some of these activities can contribute to back pain, while you may be surprised to find a few others on this list. Here’s a look at some common household activities that can contribute to back pain, and how you can prevent these activities from doing harm to your spine.
- Gardening – If you tend to a garden during the spring and summer, or you’re just tasked with yard work like pulling weeds, you need to be cognizant of your posture when you’re doing a lot of bending and twisting. Work on your hands and knees instead of bending at the waist, and give yourself a break instead of trying to get all the work done at once. If you put too much strain on your spine because of your activities or your posture, you may end up in pain. Be cognizant of your posture, and break up long stretches of physical activity.
- Doing Dishes – If you like doing dishes the old fashioned way, you may find yourself at the sink for an extended period each night doing dishes. It may not seem all that hard on your back, but it is handling a lot of stress in this position. Consider investing in a comfortable and supportive mat that you can stand on that will help to alleviate pressure and take stress off your feet and spine. Again, be mindful of your posture, because it’s easy to lean your head forward while doing dishes and put excess stress on your cervical spine.
- Watching Television – Watching television certainly isn’t physically tasking, but that doesn’t mean your spine is relaxing as much as you are when you’re watching TV. If you’re slouched or slumped on the couch, your lumbar spine is likely handling way more stress than you imagine. Avoid staying in the same position for extended periods, and break up inactivity with activity. Get up and stretch between commercials, or work out while you watch your favorite show. Don’t just sit back and let your spine handle stress in the same position for hours on end.
- Eating – The act of eating isn’t hard on your spine, but what you’re eating can definitely play a role in back pain onset. More specifically, if you’re eating unhealthy foods and gaining weight, your spine is going to be asked to disperse and handle more stress. Ensure you’re considering your calorie intake and making healthy food choices if you want to protect your spine from additional stress caused by excess weight.
- Sleep – Again, sleep isn’t physically demanding on your spine, but if it’s not the restorative process that it is supposed to be, it could be contributing to your back pain. Make sure you’re striving for quality sleep each and every night. That involves going to bed around the same time each night, making the room dark and distraction free, and investing in a quality mattress if your current model no longer supports your spine as it should. If you wake up with back pain each day, know that your mattress and your sleep quality could be underlying causes.
If you work to prevent these household activities from contributing to spine pain, we’re confident that you’ll have a great chance at avoiding back discomfort. For more information or for more hands-on help with your back pain, reach out to Dr. Sinicropi’s office today.
