>
> > If the object you want is not too heavy, you could get one of those
> > long-arm-claw-things (anyone know the real name?) that arthritis
> > patients who can't bend over use. Be sure to get a good one: some of
> > the cheaper ones will bend on you.
>
> That might work. I wonder if they sell them at the HEB I've had the most
> trouble at? :)
> Julia
"Reachers", lots of times you can find them in the garden stores locally
or look at an "adaptive equipment site". Lots of people like the ones that
have opposing suction cup looking things (that pick up the pinecones etc)
Regarding lifting- 10 pounds against your "old" belly was 10 additional pounds
of back force. 10 pounds with your arms out two feet is 20 pounds of
back force. Non pregnant people can make a bit more of a choice of
how close they keep things to their center of gravity, as babies grow out
everything is a bit more "total" work when you look at energy expenditure.
Pushing and pulling, well it is easy to use too much arms/back, but the
critical thing to recall is that as men get to age 35 their pelvis is getting
basically fused, where as a pregnant woman is releasing hormones that
keep the sacrum/illiums moving like a 3 part/3-D human rubicks cube
that is less stable. (Ok that is exaggerated on the rubicks cube, but
most of my patients like the analogy to realize the movement is not
simplistic hinge type movement.)
Dee
