From The Ergoweb® Learning Center

Rub a Dub Dub

Cleaning the tub is a pain. But a new study by the University of California San Francisco/Berkeley Ergonomics Program indicates that help is on the way.

According to the study, recently presented at the National Ergonomics Conference and Exposition, using a tool with a long handle can make cleaning the tub/shower easier, taking less effort and decreasing stress on shoulders, knees and lower back.

“The widely used sponge and spray cleaner cleaning method tends to place users in several postures that can result in injury to the musculoskeletal system,” said study lead ergonomist and physical therapist, Ira Janowitz. “From standing on tip-toes to reach the higher areas of the shower to bending and squatting to scrub down to the drain, cleaning the bathtub/shower can feel like taking an aerobics class. But for some of us, these movements can hurt our shoulders, backs and knees, and increase the chances of slipping and falling in a wet tub. Our research shows that using a cleaning tool with a long handle like the Clorox