The Great British Bake Off is back and series 5 is well under way for 2014. All the contestants are being tested with every aspect of their baking skills. With Norman Calder recently eliminated and Diana Beard has left due to ill health, the drama is heating up.
With so much baking and drama going on it is timely to offer some ‘baking back care advice’ to keep you cool in the kitchen.
Baking and cooking may seem a genteel and calm task but it often requires long periods of standing and bending which can take its toll on back pain sufferers.
Below are some cooking and baking tips for your back which will help you to maintain an optimum posture in the kitchen:
- Make sure that your counter tops are set up for your height. If the counter top is too low then you will find yourself stooping and if it is too high you will find you are having to over stretching. Both of these will result in you putting strain on your back. If you are not fortunate enough to have counter tops at the right level you will have to do the best with what you have by standing with your legs further apart with your knees bent in the case of a low counter and standing on a small sturdy stool where the counter is too high.
- When you are lifting heavy pots, pans or utensils make sure that you always face the direction in which you want to carry them. Always lift with a relaxed and straight back, making sure your feet are your hips width apart and using your knees to bend down. This will prevent you from straining your back muscles.
- Avoid bending from the waist especially when reaching down to lift up heavy objects or reaching into cupboards for ingredients. This will reduce the stress on your lower back. Never keep your knees straight as this can lead to over-stretching and cause damage to your back.
- If your back tends to fatigue when cooking, make sure you take a break and do some appropriate stretches whenever you are doing a repetitive action such as beating or whisking. Simple wrist stretches and clenching and unclenching your hand will help avoid strains.
Washing the dishes can also lead to problems. Below are a few tips to keep you safe:
- Stand with your feet shoulder width apart and make sure you are not over stretching. You don’t want to be hunched over the sink – so stand upright. If you are using a bowl in the sink you may want to raise the bowl up on something to increase its height.
- When loading and unloading your dishwasher, remember to bend your knees and keep your back straight especially when loading and unloading the lower shelf.
Keep baking and use these tips to stay safe.
At our busy Chelmsford Chiropractor Clinic you can pop in for a chat or a one-to-one session to help you with any injuries or problems you may have. You can find us at www.chelmsfordchiropractor.co.uk