Conquering the Clutter: Tips to Avoid Pain During Spring Cleaning

Spring cleaning: out with the old, in with the…muscle aches? Reclaiming your space is undeniably satisfying, but even if you’re feeling fit, it’s important to remember that spring cleaning can also be physically demanding, potentially triggering or worsening musculoskeletal pain.

From scrubbing floors to pulling weeds, repetitive motions can trigger or worsen pain in your bones, joints, or muscles and lead to common injuries like:

• Back pain: Bending, twisting, and lifting can wreak havoc on your spine, especially if you don’t use proper body mechanics.
• Sprains and strains: Overexertion can stretch or tear muscles and ligaments, causing pain and limitation of movement.
• Tendinitis: Repetitive movements can inflame tendons, leading to tenderness, swelling, and difficulty performing specific actions.
• Carpal tunnel syndrome: Wrist pain and tingling in the fingers can be caused by repetitive hand and wrist movements like scrubbing and gripping.

Clean Smarter, Not Harder

Fortunately, you don’t have to choose between a sparkling home and a healthy body. Here are some tips to prevent musculoskeletal pain and injuries while spring cleaning:

• Warm up and stretch: Before diving into cleaning, prepare your body with gentle stretches and light movement.
• Mind your posture: Maintain a neutral spine, avoid awkward bending, and lift with your legs, not your back.
• Take breaks: Don’t push yourself to exhaustion. Schedule short breaks every 30-60 minutes to stretch, rest, and rehydrate.
• Use ergonomic tools: Opt for lightweight cleaning tools, invest in a supportive kneeling pad, and utilize stepstools instead of chairs to reach high places.
• Delegate and share the load: Don’t be afraid to ask for help or distribute tasks among family members.

Carrum Health: Your Partner in Pain Relief

If you do experience a musculoskeletal injury, remember that Carrum Health is here to help. We work with some of the top orthopedic centers across the country whose specialists focus on treating musculoskeletal pain. They’ll review your case—at no cost to you—and then chat with you to figure out the gentlest way to get you feeling better again.

And if surgery is needed, Carrum Health has your back. Most, if not all, surgery costs are covered.*

And the good news is, advancements in technology and surgical techniques mean many procedures can now be done on an outpatient basis, so you can return home the same day. This means quicker recovery times and less discomfort, and you’ll be back to sparkling windows and dust-free corners in no time.

The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only. No material is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

*With the exception of second opinions, individuals enrolled in a high-deductible plan must first meet their deductible, but oftentimes copays and coinsurance will be waived. Second opinions are typically provided at no cost to members and do not require payment of any deductible. Per IRS rules, a portion of any covered travel expenses will be reported as taxable income to the covered member.