Oftentimes, how we move about our daily lives is an overlooked part of our health and wellbeing! In order to maximize the benefits of physical therapy treatment, here are some helpful habits to reduce strain on your body:
Maintain a neutral spine while cleaning and doing yard work.
Move your feet when vacuuming, rather than bending or twisting to move the vacuum.
Hinge at your hips and maintain a neutral spine when loading and unloading dishwashers, clothes washers, and dryers.
Engage your core and use your glutes instead of your back to do the bending work.
Position yourself in sitting so that your feet are flat on the floor and your hips are at a 90-degree angle. Use a pillow or towel roll along the backrest of the chair to assist with neutral spinal alignment.
At least once per day do a “posture check” as you are sitting, standing, or walking during the day.
Identify daily habits that will cue you to check posture throughout the day.
Wear supportive shoes throughout the day.
Looking for more information? This PDF goes into more detail about body mechanics with specific daily life tasks click here
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