Don’t Hurt Your Back Cooking This Christmas

Christmas: it’s the most wonderful time of the year, but it’s also one of the busiest. For many of us, much of the festive period is spent standing in the kitchen, slaving over a hot stove. And of course, time in the kitchen means time on your feet, and that can lead to neck or back pain.

So with just a few weeks left before the Christmas cooking marathons begin, we thought it was best to share some spine-friendly tips that you can use in the kitchen:

Get your moves right

The way you move in the kitchen may not be something you particularly think about, but it should be! According to our Newcastle chiropractor, proper bending, lifting and reaching techniques are essential while cooking.  To begin with, make sure you keep your go-to ingredients on a lower shelf to avoid straining your neck from reaching too high. Whether you’re lifting a 20-pound turkey out of the oven or popping in a tray of roast potatoes, make sure you lift or bend with your legs instead of your back as this will to reduce the risk of injury.

Keep a level head

Heard of “dish neck”? Ok, so it may not be such a well known term as text neck, but it comes with the same risks of back pain. Remember that the average person’s head weighs 10 to 12 pounds in a neutral position. Leaning your head forward just 15 degrees can equate to your neck supporting 27 pounds! That’s a lot of extra weight to carry! Try to keep your neck as straight as possible when doing the dishes to avoid any unnecessary pain.

Share the foodie fun

Putting together the perfect Christmas meal isn’t an easy goal to reach on your own.  Recruiting a few helping hands means sharing some of the work while making it fun for everyone. Not only will this relieve stress on your neck and back, but enjoying the social aspect of cooking can release endorphins that help reduce muscle tension.

Being the Christmas chef should be fun, and with these top tips, neck or back pain while cooking shouldn’t be on your festive menu this year!