Sitting to do housework

BaldingGeordie

Over the last year I’ve started doing more and more jobs sitting down – peeling vegetables at the table, folding laundry from a chair, even brushing my teeth perched on a stool.

Part of me feels guilty, as if I’m “giving in”, but my knees definitely cope better when I save standing for the essentials.

birdwatcher

Don't feel guilty! Crikey, no! I read your post and I could have written it. It's nothing to do with ' giving in' ,it's physically less painful to do a lot of stuff sitting rather than standing. The only houseworky thing I do standing( and I'm stooped right over when I am) is hoovering. It's a big heavy sturdy type. I have that in one hand and my stick in the other. Unless my friends here and he does it 😁. Which is better for me! I'm tempted to look into those little remote control Hoover's but bet they're expensive. Hoovering the way I do is painful but I can't do it using my rollator. My advice to you is never feel guilty for doing something to make life a bit easier or less painful

Kimi87

I resisted getting a perching stool for the kitchen for ages, Mum got one and I quite liked it, eventually "gave in" and spent the first few days hating it, now I really wonder why I left it quite so long because I absolutely love it!

yves

I do the same aswell as in the shower and i did a chair yoga course. There's also chair exercises at my local community hall. Its a thing 😁

I dont feel guilty about it as it means I can do more jobs around the house.

bookrabbit

I used to do the hoovering on my hands and knees to spare my back but now I have to do it bent over because my knees are so bad.

I'm actually better standing than sitting as long as I have something to hang onto because I broke my tailbone years ago and sitting makes my legs go numb and then I can't stand up again. I can only sit with my legs straight and leaning right back. Except fortunately in my wheelchair the gap at the back means no weight is on my tailbone so I can tolerate it better than I expected to. It put me off getting one for ages. But now I can't use crutches anymore because my weight is too much for my wrists so I gave in and I am glad I did as I have been able to go out a few times which I had entirely stopped doing.

We need to manage however we can for as long as we can and not feel bad about it.

GalDriver

Using a seat to make your life easier isn't giving in, far from it, it's enabling you to reserve a little energy for something more interesting :-)

JennieWren

An old nurse told me (and this was back in the 90’s) “never stand when you can sit, and never sit when you can lay”. I was a teen and my back problems started shortly after. I’ve stuck by it ever since. Unfortunately this year I went to rheumatology and was diagnosed with fibromyalgia (as well as my chronic back issues and post cholestectomy syndrome) and the rheumatologist said I’d looked after myself well (now in my 50’s), so I thought it can’t have done me too bad.

Littlefatfriend

The reason I'd suggest against considering it "giving in" is rooted in physiotherapy.

In and of itself, "just" standing up (which I haven't done for 35 years!) isn't really an exercise. The joints more or less lock in place and may wear in unhelpful ways.

If you desire to exercise your legs I'm sure there are many, much more constructive and controllable exercises you could do.

Have you tried asking whoever you speak to about this (doctors, therapists etc)?

With resistance bands and potentially all manner of gadgets, we can almost always help ourselves.

Whilst ironing etc, a few of the ladies who've lived with me used to sometimes borrow one of my wheelchairs just cos sitting down was easier. They were/are all fit and able-bodied.

I enjoy an easy life where it's available, and I love/encourage myself into all the exercise I do. I find that helps me.

I also consider ironing to be a crime against humanity. They were only ironing their clothes!

😇