TAKING CARE OF YOUR BACK: HOUSEWORK-WORK SURFACES AND LESS STANDING
The height of work surfaces – sink, draining board, table or working area – matters a great deal. The correct height varies with the job being done, as well as from person to person. The surface should be high enough so that you do not have to bend forwards, but not so high that you have to hunch your shoulders in order to do the job. A cooker or a kitchen unit can be raised by being put on a plinth.
If you are too tall for washing up without stooping over the sink, raise the washing-up bowl by putting it on a small wooden stand, or on top of another upturned bowl, or on the draining board. If the surface is too high for you, try standing on a small step (made out of an inverted box, perhaps) while working there, but you could hurt yourself by forgetting about the box and stepping off unwittingly.
Ideally, it would be better to rearrange your kitchen so that the worktops are the correct height. The top of a sink should be at about elbow height, but work surfaces and the top of a cooker should be two or three inches lower. It is important to stand close to the work surface.
Less standing-You may be able to cut down on cooking: by the use of a microwave oven and a freezer, you can abolish lengthy standing at a conventional hob, do away with heavy metal saucepans, reduce washing up. Having a reserve of frozen dishes means that there can be a hot meal even when your back is playing you up: but be sure to have an upright freezer, not the cavernous chest type.
Many domestic activities (preparing food, washing up, ironing) can be done seated. There is no law that says you have to stand to iron. Alter the height of the board to relate to your sitting position. It is important not to have it too high because having the arms continually raised imposes strain on the shoulders, neck and upper back.
*94\111\2*
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.