5 Places In Your House Where You’re Most Likely To Hurt Your Back

Back injuries don’t just occur as a result of athletic competition or automobile accidents. In fact, many patients who visit our office say that their spine pain originated at home. But where in your home are you most likely to injure your back? In today’s blog, we look at five places inside your home where back injuries can be more common if you’re not careful.

Back Injuries At Home

Here’s a look at some of the common places in your home where you’re a little more likely to injure your back, as well as an explanation as to why this is the case.

1. Stairs – Slipping and falling on a flight of stairs is one of the most common ways that people injure their spine at home. When you fall, oftentimes the first area of your body to strike the ground is your butt or your back, and this can really damage your spine. Always make sure to use handrails and watch your step when navigating stairs, especially when walking down a set of stairs.
2. Your Couch – You may think that your spine is pretty protected from injury when you’re lounging on the couch, but that’s not always the case. If you’re slouched on the couch or hunched forward and looking down at your phone, an abnormal amount of strain is being placed on your lumbar or cervical portions of your spine. You may not notice it in the moment, but over time this added stress can serve to speed up disc degeneration, which can cause problems for your spinal discs and the vertebrae they help support.
3. Your Bedroom – If you’re sleeping on an old mattress, your spine is spending a third of the day in a position where it is not adequately supported. A mattress that is overly soft will cause you to sink in too far and shift your spine out of a natural alignment, while a bed that is too stiff will put added pressure on the spinal column. You want to find a comfortable and supportive mattress that helps to keep your spine in a healthy alignment all through the night.
4. The Bathroom – Like the staircase, the bathroom is another area where slip and fall injuries can occur in an instant. Wet tile floors can make for slippery surfaces, and you can be flat on your back in a moment’s notice if you’re not careful. Be extra careful getting in and out of the shower, and watch for wet spots on the floor, especially if you have younger children who may not be as likely to wipe up any water on the floor.
5. The Kitchen – Finally, the kitchen can also be an area of your house that is hard on your spine. If you spend a significant amount of time on your feet cooking meals or washing dishes in the sink, your spine is going to feel the brunt of this stress, especially if your head is leaned forward to prepare food or clean the dishes. Be aware of your posture if you’ll be spending a fair amount of time in the kitchen, and try to get off your feet for a little bit to help change how stress is dispersed along your spinal column, as it will help to prevent overstress injuries.

If you’re one of the many people whose back pain developed while they were doing something at home, know that you’ll want to treat the injury proactively to help it fully resolve and prevent symptoms from lingering. Dr. Sinicropi and his team would be more than happy to determine a diagnosis and outline a care plan for your spine. For more information, or for help with a different neck or spine issue, give Dr. Sinicropi and the team at The Midwest Spine & Brain Institute a call today at (651) 430-3800.

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