Daily Excerpt: Survival of the Caregiver (Snyder) - Chapter B
Excerpt from Survival of the Caregiver by Janice Snyder - B BACKS are the mainstay of our bodies when they're in. When they go out on us, we are in big trouble as caregivers. The first time I pulled a muscle in my back, I was miserable for a week. Then I forgot all about it and lifted something incorrectly again. Two weeks of misery followed. There are rules to live by when lifting something or someone: Always bend the knees and use the leg muscles, not the back. For better leverage, get as close to the object or person as possible. Leaning into the patient's torso minimizes back strain when helping to lift the patient to a sitting position or out of the bed. A slant board enables you to slide a person from and to a bed or chair with less lifting involved. If the dependent is a heavy person, try getting a medical lift that does most of the work. There are special fabric braces made now that give excellent support for your back. They wrap around the waist and are easily att