DIY and Good Posture Need Each Other Like Hammer and Nail

By Sara Butler

Do. It. Yourself. How many times have we seen projects around the house that needed our attention. Fixing this or adding that is such a big deal it has its own acronym: DIY. Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Ace are forever grateful.

Being a weekend DIY warrior isn’t without its risks, though. That indoor painting project, new deck, or landscaping project you’re starting uses muscles you may not be used to using, and even the best-laid DIY plans can be derailed by injuries. That’s why it’s important to understand proper posture when you’re working on your projects.

Here’s what you need to know about the dangers of DIY-ing and a few tips from the chiropractors at The Joint Chiropractic to make sure your home improvement projects go off without a hitch.

The Risks of DIY Projects

Everything in life has some risk. As long as you’re educated about what you’re getting yourself into, then it’s a risk that seems acceptable. There are several risks a homeowner faces when doing DIY, such as:

• Cuts
• Eye injuries
• Bug bites
• Burns
• Fractures
• Back pain

Now, some of these risks can’t be addressed by proper posture alone. It’s up to you to wear protective goggles and secure ladders to avoid falls -- and watch out for that inevitable hornet’s nest! But there are some injuries, such as back pain, that can be reduced if you follow a few simple steps during your DIY project to address your posture.

Posture Perfect DIY

DIY projects often involve a lot of bending and lifting, as well as the use of muscles you may have forgotten you had. That’s why it’s important to keep a few tips in mind when tackling your latest home project. Put on some goggles and make sure to do the following.

• Do a warm-up - Warming up is essential for any type of exercise and DIY projects are definitely exercise! You can do some easy exercises to prep your body for the tasks ahead, such as standing back extensions
• Loosen up your muscles - People do a lot of sitting. You cannot go from spending most of your day sitting at a computer to jumping into a DIY project without first loosening up those hamstrings and hips. This will help to reduce your chance of injury.
• Limit time spent in a position - It can be easy to lose yourself in a DIY project and get stuck in one position for a while without even noticing. It’s important to stay mindful of the posture you’re holding your body in for long periods and change it up every once in a while. If you’re sitting, then make sure your knees are below hip level and your lower back is supporting. If you’re standing or squatting, get up periodically to stretch.
• Lift correctly - Use common sense when it comes to lifting. If you feel as if an object is too awkward or heavy to handle on your own, get help. When you do lift, use the power of your legs and hips to lift (but never your back), squatting down to pick things up instead of bending over. Also, make sure to hold what you’re carrying as close to your body as possible; if you have to turn you should pivot, never twist your torso when carrying something.

How Chiropractic Can Help

The chiropractors at The Joint Chiropractic may not come to your house to help you with your project, but they can help you to keep your body in optimal condition to reduce your risk of injury.

Chiropractors help to find any joint restrictions you may be suffering from and fix them so your body can work as it was made to and, more importantly, heal itself if an injury does occur. Chiropractic care is preventative, too, so it’s something to pursue even when you’re not in pain but simply plan to upgrade your DIY status.

When completing your DIY, you don’t want any lower back pain to come along with it. Maintaining proper posture is key to ensure you don’t end up hurt. If you have questions about how to tackle your DIY project while keeping your spine and body healthy, then reach out to the chiropractors at The Joint Chiropractic today!

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this page are for informational purposes only. The purpose of this post is to promote broad consumer understanding and knowledge of various health topics, including but not limited to the benefits of chiropractic care, exercise and nutrition. It is not intended to provide or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your chiropractor, physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this page.