It is the excuse ladies everywhere have been waiting for – housework is bad for your back.
Women start suffering from back and neck pain four years earlier than men, with household chores partly to blame, research shows.
High heels and large designer handbags may also be taking their toll on women’s backs. Men, in contrast, tend to blame their aches and pains on sport.
A survey of more than 2,000 British adults found that the average female first feels a twinge in her back or neck at the age of 28. The typical male, however, doesn’t start to suffer until he is 32.
Both sexes listed lifting and carrying as the main trigger, with poor posture coming a close second.
But while 36 per cent of women who had suffered back or neck pain blamed housework or DIY, just 24 per cent of men cited the same causes.
Females were also more likely to blame their pain on a soft or sagging mattress.
And while sport was the third biggest cause of back pain in men, it only took fifth place for women.
Rishi Loatey, of the British Chiropractic Association, which commissioned the research, said women may suffer from carrying heavy handbags. They also frequently hold their bag in one hand or wear it over one shoulder, while men distribute the load more evenly with a backpack.
High heels can also prove problematic, because they tilt the pelvis forward, placing strain on the back. Tips for a healthy back include bending from the knees when lifting, taking regular breaks from physical tasks, and avoiding slouching.
People are advised to warm up before playing sport and change their mattress when it starts to sag.
Draft NHS advice, which is out for consultation, states that exercise, such as yoga and aerobics, should be the treatment of choice for lower back pain.
Back pain causes more disability than any other condition, with 40 per cent of working-age Britons suffering from the complaint in the past year. Treatment costs the economy £1billion a year and £12billion with lost earnings factored in.
Back ache is also starting to bite much earlier, with smartphone-obsessed children as young as 12 seeking help.
© Daily Mail