PHOTOGRAPH: 123rf.com
Repetitive stress injuries are due to repeated stress on joints and tendons that can lead to persistent pain. They can be avoided by making simple adjustments to your daily routine.
Housewives, for instance, can change the way they carry groceries or wring clothes dry to reduce the musculoskeletal stress on their bodies.
You can also reduce the strain by taking regular breaks, doing some stretching and paying attention to your posture.
“Try to change your posture every hour or so. This can involve just a quick stroll to the office pantry or the restroom,” said Associate Professor Denny Lie, a senior consultant at the Singapore General Hospital’s (SGH’s) department of orthopaedics.
Ms Lin Ying Ying, a senior occupational therapist at SGH, demonstrates the better way to do common household chores.
This article was originally published in The Straits Times.
PHOTOGRAPH: ST FILE
The right way: Distribute the load between more joints, using the larger joints in your shoulders and elbows.
PHOTOGRAPH: ST FILE
The wrong way: Using your hands to carry heavy grocery bags. This puts a lot of pressure on the small joints in the wrists.
PHOTOGRAPH: ST FILE
The right way: To dry clothes indoors, use a height-adjustable pole to hang them.
PHOTOGRAPH: ST FILE
The wrong way: Bending forward to put out a heavy pole of clothes to dry. This puts the back and upper limbs under a lot of stress, especially with heavy loads.
PHOTOGRAPH: ST FILE
The right way: Tie the wet towel to the water tap and twist to wring it dry.
PHOTOGRAPH: ST FILE
The wrong way: Wringing the towel with your hands puts stress on your wrists.
PHOTOGRAPH: ST FILE
The right way: Use a ledge as a lever to tilt the kettle.
PHOTOGRAPH: ST FILE
The wrong way: Using your hands to grip and lift a kettle. This increases the risk of injury to the wrists.