Holiday Decorating: 3 Tips to Avoid Back Pain
By Virginia Laird
With Halloween gone and fall decorations in place, for many it is time to start thinking about decorating for Christmas. It is easy to get excited about all the lights, beautiful trees, snowmen, and the many other items that are packed away in large boxes and stashed in the attic. This is where the excitement ends. There is little pleasure be had while lugging the load up and down the attic ladder. Furthermore, it is highly possible to injure the back when tugging on these boxes loaded with heavy holiday treasures. A few things to consider doing while dragging the boxes out include:
- Lift with your legs
- Ask for help
- Don't be in a hurry
Lift with Your Legs
One mistake many people fall victim to is lifting with the back instead of the legs. Chiropractors advise that this is a sure way to cause injury and pain. It is important to know and recognize the difference between these two types of lifting.
- Lifting with the back would have one bending at the waist to grab the item to be picked up
- Lifting with the legs would have one bending at the knees to pick up the item in question
While this may not seem like a major variation, the impact these have on the body is drastic.
Ask for Help
Although you may not like to admit it, there are a few things that can be accomplished better, more quickly, or with more ease when help is enlisted on the project. Dragging heavy boxes from the attic to the house, or out of a closet to another room in the house, can be best done with the help from someone to share the weight of the load. Chiropractors recommend using the buddy system as a way to help ease the burden of the weight on your back. There are always friends willing to help. Make it a decorating party, drag out the junk food and your favorite beverage, crank up the holiday tunes and have your first party of the season!
Don’t Be in a Hurry
Allow plenty of time to get the job done. When you are in a hurry, there is no time for breaks. While decorating and hauling the boxes from storage it is wise to take breaks often. Chiropractors suggest taking breaks often when dealing with heavy lifting. These breaks will allow you to get off your feet and give the back a rest. This can help to release tension. If you need help releasing the tension, chiropractors recommend using light stretches. These are not stretches that would require the use of a yoga mat, simple shoulder shrugs can do the job.
If you struggle from back pain at any point in your effort to decorate, stop by The Joint Chiropractic near you. With more than 390 locations nationwide you are sure to have one in your community. There are no appointments needed, making your visit as readily available as you need it to be.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Raleigh, N.C.