How many times do I bend my back in the course of any day? Now that it’s on my radar I can say: a ridiculous number of times. In the workshop alone, between picking up dropped hardware off the floor, tools, pieces of wood and shavings, plugging/unplugging chords and hoses, sweeping into a dustpan, pulling out low shelves, re-tightening shoe laces, it’s quite a number of times. Then move to outdoor activities like lawn and garden work and firewood activity and the list grows enormously. Finally, housework with cleaning, feeding the woodstove, kitchen activities, loading and unloading the Mousieleum, even bending down to scratch my dog’s head when he’s on the floor- you get the idea.
I bring up the topic of bending because a recent article from NPR (brought to my attention by Doug Berch) made me aware that I was adding to my perennial back pain by bending incorrectly. I have long known of and practiced good mechanics for lifting, but bending over, no.
Here is the basic idea. I’m sure that über fit individuals who workout with kettlebells (like Rob Porcaro) are hip to the hinge, but if you don’t know of it consider the long term benefit of taking away all that stress.
To hip hinge:
1. Place your feet about 12 inches apart.
2. Keep your back straight.
3. As you bend your knees, allow your pubic bone to move backward.
4. Fold over by allowing your pubic bone to slide through your legs, down and back.