It is a pleasure to share about Senior Physiotherapist Shubhangi Gaikwad from the United Arab Emirates as an Influencer for health and fitness at Womenlines panel. A Dedicated PT offering 10 years of acute-chronic care experience. This month Shubhnagi is sharing tips for creating Ergonomic Friendly Kitchen for Happy and Healthy Cooking–
As the office ergonomics is essential in the workspace, so do we have to think about kitchen safety for physical fitness of a person spending hours in the kitchen.
Usually, when family decides to renovate or construct a kitchen, they spend a long time choosing right colours of the wall, shelves, gadgets, tiles, sinks, tapes etc. but they forget the importance of measurements, placement, correct utensil choice, proper lighting, and floor selection.
As the kitchen is the place, which is in everyday use in all homes, and in most part of the world, women are responsible for all the cooking, baking, and cleaning chores. And women account large number in having many common aches and pain. Also in my clinic, we receive many chefs coming with various musculoskeletal problems.
How the kitchen can lead to physical injury, aches and pains?
There are various factors in the kitchen which leads to many musculoskeletal issues.
- Awkward postures
- Repetitive movement of small and big joints
- Traction and compression force injury
- A long duration of a task
Listed factors can be eliminated if a kitchen is properly designed and one has a basic knowledge of ergonomics to avoid injury. For example, while chopping and cutting on the kitchen platform, there is continuous wrist and hand movement, if a person is cutting and chopping with the wrist in extreme flexion or extension, it leads to carpal tunnel syndrome, severe wrist pain. Tennis elbow, etc. And if the platform height is not appropriate it can lead to repetitive injury in back and shoulders too just by doing continuous chopping and cutting activity every day.
Ladies who are more involved in baking on large scale or on a regular basis, have a chance of getting traction and compression injuries if they are not aware of the correct way of holding and carrying various things in the kitchen.
Simple posture assessment followed by postural correction technique can make many women more active and much happier in the kitchen if they are pain-free and out of any musculoskeletal injury risk.
Things to check around in your kitchen.
- Work centre – avoid back and forth walking, choose a central area to work
- Storage units – accessible as per your requirement
- Worksurface heights and designs – for correct posture while working in the kitchen
- Comforting Floor- for easing long working hour in the kitchen
- Lightning of kitchen-
- Control panels
These are some quick tips on what you should check for the kitchen safety. Kitchen ergonomics is as important as office ergonomics. Correct space around your kitchen and stay fit.
For any doubt or consultation, feel free to write back to me.
Shubhangi Gaikwad
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