Dr. Kim Gladden of the Cleveland Clinic offers some advice for staying safe during that last minute holiday shopping spree.
Attention last minute shoppers...be careful out there! Many of us will be running out to pick up a quick gift, or maybe you've saved that "big ticket" item for last. Whatever your shopping dilemma, be sure to be careful. Dr. Kim Gladden is an orthopedic expert at Cleveland Clinic, she says heavy items should be lifted with the legs, not the back.
“You don’t want to be rotating and lifting and frequently when we’re putting a big heavy thing in a car we’re going to turn, put it in, turn put it in. Instead, face it, get it close to the body, use the legs to lift and put it in the car and you’re much less likely to injure the back if you’re lifting something fairly heavy.”
Dr. Gladden suggests wearing proper footwear for winter conditions to avoid falls on slippery surfaces like parking lots and drive ways.
If you'll be carrying lots of heavy bags, dont do what Santa does by hauling them over one shoulder. Dr. Gladden says carrying everything on one side could lead to a shoulder injury.
“It’s a good idea to try to distribute weight evenly. I know backpacks are not attractive but it’s going to pull evenly on the shoulders and keep you upright can be really helpful.”
If you find some must-have holiday decorations while you're out, Dr Gladden says to use caution while putting them up. A sturdy ladder and someone to assist will go a long way in preventing an accident.
