Ever wonder why your back feels like it’s protesting after a long day of cleaning, or your neck gets stiff from hours spent cooking? It’s not just you! Many housewives experience aches and pains from everyday chores, but these can be more than just temporary discomfort.
A recent study in Malaysia revealed that 75% of housewives experience work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) due to repetitive movements and awkward postures during housework.
How Daily House Chores Impact Your Body
WMSDs are a group of conditions affecting muscles, tendons, and joints. They can cause pain, stiffness, and even limit your ability to perform daily tasks. Common culprits in the home include scrubbing floors, vacuuming, lifting laundry baskets, and maintaining awkward postures while cooking or cleaning.
Ready to identify the sneaky chores causing pain in your neck, back, and beyond?
NECK:
- Cooking: The most frequent culprit for neck pain is cooking due to prolonged bending and awkward neck positions.
- Sweeping and mopping: These activities can also strain the neck muscles due to repetitive bending movements.
- Parental care: Carrying and caring for children for extended periods can put stress on the neck.
SHOULDERS:
- Cooking: Repetitive arm movements like bending and stretching during cooking often lead to shoulder pain.
ELBOWS, WRIST & HANDS:
- Cooking: The most frequent activity associated with wrist and hand pain is cooking, due to repetitive gripping and twisting motions.
- Sweeping and cooking: Both activities involve repetitive bending and stretching of the elbows, increasing the risk of WMSDs.
- Washing: Washing dishes or laundry can also strain the elbow joints.
LOWER BACK:
- Cooking: Awkward postures like bending the trunk while cooking can strain the lower back muscles.
- Parental care: Lifting children over 10kg can significantly increase the risk of back pain
KNEES:
- Cooking on low surfaces: Squatting for prolonged periods while cooking at a low level can strain the knee joints.
- Other activities: Activities like washing floors or gardening that require sustained squatting can also contribute to knee pain.
By understanding which household activities put the most stress on specific body parts, housewives can take steps to prevent WMSDs.
Top 3 Stretches for Relief
Slowly point your fingers up until you feel a stretch, and hold for 3-5 seconds.
Slowly twist to your torso to the other side until you fell the stretch in your chest and shoulder.
Wrap your arms around your legs and pull them to your chest for 30 seconds.
We understand the physical demands of housework. We offer chiropractic care and personalized advice on ergonomics and posture to help housewives maintain optimal health and avoid WMSDs.
Remember, a healthy housewife is a happy housewife! Let’s work together to ensure they can continue their vital role without sacrificing their well-being.
