Save Your Back While You Clean
By Sara Butler
Cleaning. Some people love it, some hate it, but it seems as if it's something that always needs to be done. Believe it or not, cleaning can be a great workout. Along with getting your body moving, it can also cause injury, which is why you must be careful when getting into those hard-to-reach places. Here are some tips from the chiropractors at The Joint Chiropractic that can help you to keep your house clean and your body free from injury.
Warm Up
You wouldn't Jazzercise without warming up those muscles, so don't clean your home without doing it either. The scrubbing, bending, moving, and lifting you do when cleaning your house can leave you feeling sore and stiff the next day. You'll also be more likely to injure yourself if you just jump right in without warming up those muscles.
It's not that hard to get your muscles warm. Take a walk around your house, do a couple of easy stretches, and get that blood pumping.
Suck It In
One way you can turn your Saturday cleaning routine into a Saturday cleaning and workout routine is to keep your abs tight. Work with your abs tightened -- sort of how they feel when you try to suck in your stomach. This can help work out your abs a little as you're moving about. It also helps you to be more conscious of your form when you're moving, getting up, or lifting. Poor form is a sure way to injure yourself, so help build up your core to prevent injury as you clean. Two birds, one stone!
Use Those Legs
One of the biggest mistakes people make when cleaning is lifting with their back instead of their legs. You shouldn't bend at your waist either. Always squat down to pick something up off the floor or when cleaning things down low. Bend at the knees and lunge when vacuuming or scrubbing the tub. You'll keep your back healthy and give your shoulders and arms a great workout.
Have Fun
There's nothing wrong with turning on your favorite tunes and getting down to scrub the grout in your bathroom. Whatever you do when cleaning your house, make sure to have fun with it. You can also ask the chiropractors at The Joint for some tips to help you keep your body healthy as you keep your home squeaky clean.
If you need more tips for keeping your back healthy as you clean, then talk to the chiropractors at The Joint today!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Aurora, Colo.