Outdoor enthusiasts and green-thumbed gardeners all over the state are once again preparing for another season doing the things they love. Whether you’re gardening, fixing up the house or doing yard work, you’re bound to be moving your body in ways it hasn’t moved since last summer.
At 360 Chiropractic, one of the biggest summertime complaints we get is back pain. In fact, 8 out of 10 people suffer from back pain at least once in their lives, but there are simple ways to prevent this. So whether you’re planting the garden of your dreams or simply taking care of your home, here are a few tips on doing it right without the fear of back pain:
- Warm Up Your Muscles. Just like before any workout, you’ll want to warm up. Warming up your body increases blood flow to your muscles and decreases the likelihood of injury or soreness. For a few simple ideas, here are 5 Best Moves to Warm Up, or you can simply take a brisk walk around the yard — anything to get your blood moving!
- Drink Water! So often we forget to hydrate our muscles! Dehydration can cause cramps, headaches, and yes, back pain. Not only is dehydration a serious issue you’ll want to avoid, but drinking water boosts energy, maximizes physical performance, and a ton of other positive things to maintain and improve your health.
- Use Proper Body Mechanics. The most important tip we could give is to make sure you’re bending, lifting and twisting properly. Remember to lift with your legs, keep your body aligned, and use your body weight for leverage instead of muscling hard against shovel, hoes, and rakes. You can see the proper body mechanics techniques on lifting, digging, weeding and mowing in action right here.
For more pain-free gardening tips, refer to Christianhospital.org, which not only gives you some fun tips on gardening, but also some additional warm up exercises. You may also want to check out Natural Wellness Girl, who offers great tips on gardening and proper techniques.
We want you to have a fun and safe summer this season, and the best way to do that is by protecting your body. So please take care of your body just as well as you take care of your garden. Don’t forget to take breaks and wear sunscreen. Now, put on your gardening gloves and sun hat and get digging!
You wouldn’t take a cross-country summer car trip with your family without a trip to your trusted mechanic to avoid a breakdown. So before you head into your yard, see your favorite chiropractors at 360 for a spring tune-up to help you avoid injuries. Your body will thank you!