Ask America’s Ultimate Experts
From floors that tire our feet to mattresses that hurt our backs, our homes can trigger aches and pains. No more! Our experts share the easy ways to ensure your home is the comfortable haven you deserve!
Ache-proof your kitchen! Pad the floor!
Consider placing an antifatigue mat on your kitchen floor, suggests Ellen Kolber, a specialist in ergonomics, the science of arranging homes and offices for maximum efficiency and comfort. According to a recent study, standing on an anti-fatigue mat cuts soreness in half compared to standing on a surface with no give, such as tile or wood. The mat’s padding encourages “micro movements” in your legs and lower back that increase blood flow to those areas, stopping the hurt! One option: Laura Ashley AntiFatigue Gel Kitchen Mat, $39.99, Bedbathand Beyond.com. Stay sharp! “Keeping your kitchen knives sharp reduces wear and tear on your hands and wrists because dull knives require you to press harder,” reveals expert Valentina Sendin. Also smart: Using knives and gadgets designed with comfort in mind (such as the OXO Good Grips line at Walmart, Target and elsewhere) to make everyday food-prep chores pain-free! Know your “strike zone”! If you use a lot of heavy pans and appliances like Crock-pots, a simple baseball analogy can help you dodge aches and pains. Just envision a “strike zone” in your kitchen—the area between your knees and shoulders— as the place where you should store your heaviest items, says ergonomist Alan Hedge, PH.D. “Placing heavier objects either lower or higher causes bending or overextending. Relocating them within the ‘strike zone’ allows you to lift and carry objects comfortably!”
Ache-proof your bathroom! Replace knobs!
To soothe sore hands, replace round knobs on cabinets, faucets and doors with levers, urges Sendin. Instead of gripping a knob with your whole hand, which requires exerting a lot of force, you’ll be able to use light pressure and just a finger or two.
Follow the 20/8/2 rule!
The hardest household chore? Cleaning the bathroom, research reveals. “It puts a lot of pressure on your body,” Hedge confirms. The proven formula for easing it and similar chores: “Sit for 20 minutes, stand for eight and move for two,” he says. Changing your posture this way increases blood flow, which thwarts soreness!
Ache-proof your bedroom! Renew your mattress!
Tossing and turning due to sore back, hips or knees? The right mattress topper can alleviate those aches, says Sendin. How to choose the best one for you? Side and stomach sleepers tend to prefer a softer topper that contours to their body, such as one made with down or memory foam. Back sleepers are better off with “firm” toppers like those made of latex or really dense memory foam. Folks with lower back pain do best sleeping on a medium-firm surface, such as a topper that combines gel and memory foam, according to a recent Harvard study.