Summer gardening often means tending plants, pulling weeds, and taking care of little jobs as they come up. Fall brings a different kind of work.
Suddenly there are leaves to rake, plants to pull up, and plenty to do before winter arrives. These activities may involve movements your body hasn’t done regularly in months, which can leave your lower back, hips, or legs feeling the effects.
The good news? A little preparation can go a long way.
Treat Yard Work Like a Workout
Raking and fall cleanup may be chores, but they’re still physical activity. Treating yard work much like an athletic event and warming up before you begin can help prepare your body for what’s ahead.
“Before you go out to do the yard work, do your stretching. Get yourself warmed up and ready to go. It’s like an athletic event; you want to warm up.”
— Dr. William Kriva
Take a few minutes to get moving and gently stretch before tackling the yard. Rather than trying to finish everything in one burst, give yourself time to settle into the work.
Pay Attention to How You Bend and Lift
Good lifting habits matter when you’re picking up leaves, garden debris, or other loads. Keep what you’re carrying close to your body and use your legs to lift rather than relying on your back. It’s also a good idea to avoid twisting your body while carrying something. That combination of lifting and twisting can place extra stress on the discs in your lower back.
If something feels too heavy or awkward to manage comfortably, don’t force it. Changing how you approach the job may be easier on your body than trying to power through.
Get Your Spine Ready for Fall Chores
Your whole spine is involved when you’re bending, lifting, carrying, and raking. That means paying attention not only to the lower back, but also to the neck, mid back, and pelvis.
At Parkview Chiropractic Clinic, chiropractic care begins with an evaluation to see how your spine and pelvis are moving. When appropriate, adjustments may be used to address areas that aren’t moving as they should.
Keep Fall Cleanup Manageable
You don’t need to race through the entire yard in one afternoon. Warm up, use your legs when lifting, keep loads close, and avoid twisting while you’re carrying them.
Those simple habits can help you approach fall gardening with your body in mind.
If you’d like to have your spine checked before tackling your seasonal to-do list, Dr. Kriva and our Oakdale team are here to help.