Preparation
If you’ve been spending more time in the kitchen over the past 18 months, your kitchen is likely long overdue for a new mat or rug. This is especially true for anyone who hasn’t invested in an anti-fatigue mat yet—while rugs of any kind can help with back pain to some extend, anti-fatigue options were specifically designed to make standing in the kitchen a whole lot more comfortable. There a lot of anti-fatigue mats on the market to choose from, which is good news for those who want lots of choices, but bad news for anyone new to the category.
Perhaps one of the most overlooked kitchen tools, anti-fatigue mats can reduce the feeling of sore, tired feet and a stiff, aching back after an afternoon of prepping for a party, baking several batches of cookies, or just making dinner. However, you need to choose the right one for you and your kitchen, taking into consideration how you cook and your lifestyle. Select one that’s too thick and it may be a tripping hazard, but choose one that’s too thin and it won’t provide enough support. You’ll also need to keep in mind the size of your kitchen and how messy a cook you are (some anti-fatigue rugs are much easier to clean than others). Here are some of our favorite kitchen rugs for the home cook with back pain.
