Shopping with pelvic instability 

It’s possible to go shopping with pelvic instability when you’re prepared enough and when you have firm soles in your sneakers. Don’t stroll or lean when you’re shopping and take enough breaks. Make sure that you don’t shop for too long, keep it short and try to shop for less than two hours. Don’t make odd turning movements and don’t bend over with your back. I believe that every woman loves to shop, but how do you do that with pelvic instability? It isn’t really a smart idea, but in this article we will tell you the best way you can shop with pelvic instability.

 

If you’re looking for pelvic floor exercises or go to the exercises page. If you’re looking for products for your pelvis and go to the Pelvic Store. 

What is pelvic instability? 

I’m sure that you know the painful feeling in your lower back or pelvis when you walk, you just didn’t think of what it could actually mean. The pelvic pain often starts with movements that you make with your pelvis. We call this symphysiolysis, also called pelvic instability. It often occurs before, during or after pregnancy. It can also occur in non-pregnant women and/or men, but that is a small possibility. You can find more information about pelvic instability in this article. 

 

How can you shop with pelvic instability? 

You can shop with pelvic instability when you thoroughly think about what you want or need to have and by shopping as wisely as possible. People often want to do their own thing, even if they’re in pain. A lot of women love to go shopping, after all. Especially when you’re pregnant (or have been) and want to buy all those baby clothes. It’s often relaxing and fun, because they’re out with other people, but is shopping with pelvic instability a smart idea? It isn’t a recommendation to shop for hours on end and act as if nothing is wrong. It’s important that you keep walking straight up. In the next paragraphs I will tell you what’s best to avoid doing when you’re shopping with pelvic instability.  

 

Leaning with pelvic instability 

Leaning increases your pelvic pain. You’re hanging in your pelvic ligaments when you’re leaning on one leg. Your pelvic ligaments get more overloaded that way. Avoid leaning in stores, because then your pelvic ligaments become overloaded. The best thing you can do is taking fifteen minute breaks for every thirty minutes you’ve walked. Make sure that you walk straight up and that you properly lift your knees, otherwise you’re putting too much pressure on your legs and pelvic girdle. 

 

Strolling with pelvic instability 

It’s best to avoid strolling when you’re shopping. When you stroll with pelvic instability, you’re putting more pressure on your pelvic ligaments. Strolling stretches out the pelvic ligaments and the pain in your pelvic ligaments increases that way. Strolling with pelvic instability overloads your pelvic ligaments and pelvic floor muscles. You often take your time walking when you’re shopping. Everyone starts to stroll by themselves. Properly lift up your knees during walking to relax your pelvic ligaments and pelvic floor muscles as much as possible. Don’t wear boots, but wear sneakers with proper arch support. 

 

Tips for shopping with pelvic instability 

You of course want to know what’s best for you when you’re shopping with pelvic instability. How can you shop without increasing your pelvic pain? I’ve summed up some tips for shopping with pelvic instability. 

 

 

1. 1. Tip 1: Go shop together 
      This way someone else can carry your bags, so your pelvic girdle isn’t being overloaded by carrying heavy bags. 

 

2. 2. Tip 2: Don’t stroll  
      Lift your knees properly and don’t walk slowly through the malls. 

 

3. 3. Tip 3: Only go to the store when it’s necessary 
      Try to stay at home as much as possible so you can relax. Only go to the stores when you really need something. 

 

4. 4. Tip 4: Shop online as much as possible 
      It’s a perfectly fine choice to grab your phone when you’re in bed or on the couch and shop online. You’re risking developing more pelvic pain when you physically go to the stores with your pelvic instability, e.g. when you’re strolling, when you don’t take breaks on time or when you carry heavy bags. Shop online and take a walk around the block if you really can’t handle being inside anymore. 

 

5. 5. Tip 5: Wearing the wrong shoes  
      Wearing the right shoes can help you walk around more safely. Wearing sneakers with firm soles also relieves the walking a little. It doesn’t mean that you can extend your shopping time just because you’re wearing proper shoes. You’re still going to experience pain the next day. Wearing proper shoes only helps relaxing your pelvic muscles when you walk. 

For how long can you shop with pelvic instability? 

Shopping with pelvic instability worsens your issues. That’s why it’s not smart to shop for a prolonged period of time. You can walk for about thirty minutes if you take a fifteen minute break after that. Your pelvic muscles can relax when you take breaks. This doesn’t mean that you can shop the whole day when you take a break every thirty minutes.  

 

Online shopping with pelvic instability 

You experience pelvic pain because of your pelvic instability, and you still want to go shopping? It isn’t recommended to stroll through the shopping center when you have pelvic instability. It’s very suffocating for your pelvic ligaments and your pelvic floor muscles. Would you still like to shop with pelvic instability? Then it’s a good idea to grab a cup of tea and a biscuit and sit on the couch. You can grab your phone and open all the shopping apps of stores that you normally set foot in. That way you aren’t putting any pressure on your pelvic ligaments and you can relax at the same time. Not only can you relax, but your pelvis will also relax. You won’t experience any additional pelvic pain the next day because you’re staying home. Having a disturbed abdominal pressure causes overloaded pelvic muscles and ligaments to be right around the corner. 

 

Doing groceries with pelvic instability 

The easiest way to do groceries with pelvic instability is by doing it with someone, so you don’t overload your pelvic floor muscles too much. Though it’s logical that people have the commitment trait. Even when they have pelvic pain, people still prefer to do things themselves. Pelvic issues often don’t get recognized and the pelvic pain increases this way.  

 

Doing groceries together 

It’s recommended to not do everything by yourself, it’s fine to ask for help, especially when you’re going to do groceries. Make sure you aren’t going alone when it isn’t necessary to go alone. Carrying heavy bags increases the pelvic pain and you’re struggling with more issues the next day. Try to take bags to your car by putting them in a shopping cart when you’re alone and nobody else is around to carry them for you.  

 

Turning with pelvic instability 

When you’re doing groceries with pelvic instability, make sure you don’t constantly turn from your shopping cart to the shelves. Turning is very burdening for your pelvic ligaments. The pelvis is very brittle and weak when there’s pelvic instability going on. You can cause damage when you keep making too many turning movements. You can overstretch or overload your pelvis because of those movements. Make sure that you walk straight to something that you want. B bend down through your knees if you need to grab something that’s close to the floor. 

 

Being prepared for doing groceries with pelvic instability 

Before you walk out of the house, it’s handy to have a premade grocery list with all the necessities included. This way you’re not that long on your way. This is also easier on your pelvis. Next to that you also know where to find everything which prevents you from making too many turning movements with the pelvic ligaments. 

 

Another way of being prepared for doing groceries with pelvic instability is how you grab the products. Don’t bend over forward when something is located below your hip. Try to duck low. It’s not healthy to bend over with a hollowed back. It’s a precaution to bend as much as possible through your knees.   

 

Tips for doing groceries with pelvic instability 

Below is a small summary of tips for doing groceries in a safer way. This way you will also experience less pelvic pain after doing groceries. 

 

Tip 1: Don’t carry heavy bags 

Like I’ve mentioned before, make sure you are out together. This way you can divide your bags and your pelvic ligaments will be less overloaded. If you really are going out by yourself, balance out your grocery bags on both sides. Some more pounds in your bags also means some more pounds thrown on top of your pelvic ligaments. 

Tip 2: Take breaks 

By taking breaks in between grocery shopping, you’re allowing your pelvic floor muscles to relax and recover some more. 

Tip 3: Take the car 

If you’re doing groceries by yourself, it’s preferred to go by car so you can place your heavy grocery bags in there. That way you don’t have to carry them home. You can transport your grocery bags to your car with a shopping cart. 

Tip 4: Turn as little as possible 

Try to prevent turning as much as possible and go straight to your objective. 

 

Tip 5: Be prepared 

Try to have a list at hand before you walk out of the door. This way you don’t have to think about what you still need last-minute. It saves time and overload on your pelvic ligaments. 

Tip 6: Walk behind your shopping cart 

Make sure you keep walking behind your shopping cart and push it forward. This way you’re supporting yourself more during groceries. 

And lastly, are you looking for more information? 

Hopefully this information was useful to you! If you’re still looking for some more information, feel free to take another look around on the website. It’s filled with in-depth information, tips a webshop and also exercises. I still have a lot of articles with lots of information about other symptoms and issues. Feel free to click on the blue words to take you straight to the right page.