As we look
around us we see very few people with good posture, and we also see an epidemic
of low back pain. Converting from
all-fours to upright has been a challenge in the evolution of man/woman;
pregnancy provides another challenge on top of that. Gaining awareness of your posture takes time
but only by
gaining awareness can we make changes.
Like all hard-won awareness, the benefits of staying the course are
great. Follow this link to the
Sage blog to find a few suggestions for awareness in your everyday living.
- Brushing
Teeth and Washing Face - The
majority of people bend over from the waist putting extra stress on the
low back. Try sinking down in
your knees and resting one or two elbows on the sink. You can also place one foot on a
stool or inside the base of the sink cabinet to achieve a more neutral
alignment.
- Vacuuming
- Best to avoid entirely but,
if you’ve run out of excuses… J
Keep the vacuum cleaner close to you and work in one small area at
a time rather than reaching out over long distances.
- Putting Your
Shoes On - Who would have
ever thought this would be hard?
Ideally, you should sit on the edge of a hard chair. Bring one leg up and cross it over
the opposite leg, keeping your back straight. This position has the added benefit of stretching your
hip muscles and helping to prevent sciatica.
- Lifting –
Lift with your legs, not your back.
Squat down to pick something up, keeping your back straight. Don’t twist, turn your whole body
towards to object. Keep the
object close to your body. Finally, GET HELP to lift! That’s
what partners are for.
For more
ideas, go to Alicia M. Silva’s “Preventing and Managing Back Pain During
Pregnancy”, from which the above article was abstracted.
