Oh my aching back!
I say that a lot these days. Of course, I’m three weeks from having a baby, so it’s pretty natural. But that’s not the only reason … I say it a lot when I’m not pregnant, too.
And while I know that dragging kids around on the hip is one of the reasons my back hurts all the time, several orthopedic and spinal specialists, told Redbook Magazine that there are actually several other triggers women probably aren’t even thinking about … even though these things likely play a frequent roll in our everyday life.
The first one, which surprised me, was ballet flats. I mean, I get it. There’s a serious lack of support there. But I would have thought that major heels would have been a bigger trigger than ballet flats. Apparently, ballet flats are far too flimsy to protect the delicate discs in your lower back.
Another one? The phone. Oy! Whether you’re on a traditional phone or a cell, jamming the receiver between your shoulder and your ear is a big no-no.
And while those retro handsets that you can plug into your cell phone are super-cute, they’re just a bad investment; you’re better off snagging a bluetooth and going totally hands-free. I, for one, am not guilty of this one, simply because I can’t seem to figure out how to hold the phone between my ear and shoulder without muting the damn thing.
Office workers, rejoice! You now have an excuse to get up and walk to a coworker’s cubicle. Because sitting in the same spot for hours on end is also bad news for your back muscles.Though the specialists interviewed for the article suggest simple desk fixes like heightening your monitor and tossing a phone book under your feet, I’m all about the social aspect of visiting with your cube-mates.
Be sure to check out the article for other suggestions on how to ease your pain; you’ll be surprised at how easy it can be … and you don’t even have to give up your cute ballet flats.
