So, that's funny - the movie of course, but not the throwing out of the back part. 🙅🏾♀️
Anywho, I happened to throw my back out while I was vacuuming, of all things, several years ago. I remember it like it was yesterday! I couldn't fathom how in the heck it even happened. I was in so much pain
for several weeks. I visited my masseuse several times, did myofascial release, and foam rolled, you name it, I did it.
One thing I didn't do was lay-up, as much as it sucked not to do so. Of
course, I did rest, ice it, heat it, but I continued to move. I still trained but I modified exercises and such. I also doubled down on glute and core training.
So, how the heck did I throw my
back out? It had to be my form. How was I vacuuming? I have never hurt myself during training - knock on wood, thank God. Lol, unless you count the time I chipped a tooth doing upright rows! I always do my best to train properly and with good form.
It hadn't dawned on me until later after I was healed, that I was hunching over, with a rounded back when I was vacuuming. Duh, Candace, you know better. Wasn't thinking, I was on a mission to get the vacuuming over with. I can remember it like yesterday, my husband and I were cleaning the house for my step daughter’s birthday party.
P.S. I don't like chores, lol!
A lot of us bend over improperly and don't even notice or recognize it.
It can be a bad habit to break, to stop bending over
like a cashew. You know how cashews have a rounded curve? That's exactly how our backs look when we bend from the waist to pick things up. This is no bueno. 🙅🏾♀️
So, why is this bad?! Simply stated, it's bad for our spine - our vertebrae. We are putting stress on the spine, specifically our spinal disks.
When we continue to bend improperly, this is when we hurt our backs, slip a disk, etc.
It's imperative that we squat down or hinge to pick things up from the ground or to lift heavy objects. Hinging is so important, and one of the reasons I talk about strengthening your back and glutes with deadlifts, glute work, etc. all the time.
Moving forward, every time you have to pick something up remember to bend from the hips, not the back. Bending at the hips takes the pressure off of your back.
In the video below, I'm demo-ing
how to pick things up properly by unloading a barbell.
The same way that I am
picking up the plate is the same way you should pick things up off the floor at home to keep your back healthy.
Also note another effective and safe way
is squatting down to pick and lift things up.
