Back Safe Baking …

baking back care advice from our southend chiropractorIt’s that time of year again, baking mania has hit our shores as The Great British Bake Off is underway on out TV screens. Paul, Prue, Sandie and Noel are back in the tent along with contestants eager to showcase their baking talents. So far the contestants seem like a talented lot as Paul is handing out what seems like way more handshakes than usual.

Sales of baking tools and supplies surge at the start of each series as bakers eagerly await the start of the contest. And why not as baking can be so much fun and is something that all the family can get involved in.

Whether your new to baking or a seasoned hand our chiropractors at Cliffs Chiropractic Clinic in Southend want to make sure you keep your back safe when baking. Following some simple pieces of advice can often be the difference between a pain free back and a visit to our clinic!

Bakers and chefs can find themselves standing for hours at their kitchen counter tops so it may not come as a surprise that their counter tops can often be the cause of back pain that they experience. A counter top that is too high can really cause your back problems as you have to stoop over it. If your counter top is too high then spread you feet as wide as is necessary so that the surface is the right height for you. You may also want to use a chopping board of the right thickness to bring the work surface up to the right height for you.

Baking can involve quite  bit of lifting, bending and carrying.  It’s important to do these in a back safe way! You don’t want to know how many patients we have treated over the years who have bent over to pick something up and have ended up in pain!

When lifting, bend at the knees and keep a straight back.Bending over from your back is never a good idea.

When carrying an object, face the direction you are going to go in. Avoid twisting whenever you are lifting  or carrying an object.

Take regular breaks and do some simple stretches.

Keep your back ‘bake safe’ and happy baking.

If you are suffering back aches and pains our experienced chiropractors at Cliffs Chiropractic are here to help. Call us on 01702 430 430 to arrange an appointment.

Ouch! That Turkey Really Hurt My Back!

back care advice at christmas from our cliffs chiropractor It’s the most wonderful time of the year! And it’s also the most chaotic! From making sure the house is spick and span ready for those visitors, to mastering the perfect Christmas roast, the festive period can be your back’s worst enemy if you’re not careful! But following these simple tips from our Southend chiropractor can help reduce your risk of picking up a painful back injury this Christmas …

Lift correctly

Avoid bending from your back or twisting while lifting objects. Whether it’s a heavy gift or a 20lb turkey, hold the object close to your body with a good base of support and your legs apart. Then, bend at your knees, lift and turn your entire body from your feet to move objects.

Build strength while standing

If you’re spending long periods in the kitchen rustling up the Christmas lunch, why not get healthier in the process?  Try standing on one leg every now and again (if you haven’t had too many glasses of bubbly!), as this will help to build strength in the core muscles of your lower back and abdomen. (Remember to hold on to the worktop to stabilise yourself!)

Change your position

When standing for long periods of time, such as cooking or cleaning, make sure you widen your stance or change your position regularly. This will prevent repeated stress on the same muscles.

Stand tall when vacuuming

Giving the house a last minute spruce up before the big day? Make sure you avoid bending and pushing while vacuuming. Instead, stand upright with your chest slightly pushed forward and use your legs instead of your back to move forward and backward.

Keep weight close

With Christmas comes a lot of carrying – whether it’s the turkey, boxes of decorations or that mountain bike gift you’ve had stored up the attic for months! Make sure you reach from as short a distance as possible when picking up objects and keep the weight as close to your body as possible. For example, rather than reaching over the back seat of the car to pick up a box, get out of the car, sit next to the box in the back seat, bring the object  close to you and then get out of the car.

There’s nothing merry about back pain, especially during Christmastime!