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Gardening and back pain; what you can do to help yourself

Gardening and back pain; what you can do to help yourself

Fall is here, and that means it is time to care for your garden. Simple tasks such as raking your lawn, clearing out your gutters, and harvesting your autumn vegetables can lead to aches and pains that you aren\’t ready for. There are several things you can do to get prepared for this autumn gardening time. Stretching, proper body mechanics, and manual therapy can all be included in helping you gear up for the fall. It is essential to look out for your body and take care of it.

Warming Up
Warming up before you get ready to garden can help decrease the back pain you feel. Gardening in itself is a workout, and just like any workout, you should warm up first. Performing warm-up exercises such as toe touches and shoulder rolls can help loosen you up beforehand. Making sure to warm up the core prior can help back pain after gardening too.

Types of Stretches That Help
Several types of stretches can help prevent back pain after gardening. These stretches can be done before as a warm-up or afterward. The child\’s pose is a great stretch that stretches the lower back and is easy to do. Child\’s pose is done on the ground kneeling and leaning your body in between your thighs, so you get an excellent stretch to your lower back. You can move your arms to the left and right to obtain a stretch down your sides as well.

Use Proper Body Mechanics
Using proper body can ensure you do not injure yourself, causing back pain after gardening. When turning, move with your whole body and not just your torso. Bend your knees and tighten your core muscles when bending over to pick up items. When carrying heavy objects, hold them close to your center of gravity to prevent any injury to yourself.

Manual Therapy Can Help
Manual therapy such as osteopathy, physiotherapy, and chiropractic therapy can help decrease back pain after gardening. They can all also decrease chronic back pain as well. Pilates is a great way to seek out core strengthening exercising, which may effectively reduce your back pain after gardening.

Seek Out Help
At Osteo and Physio, you will be provided with effective therapy treatment suitable to your needs and limitations. Manipulation, tissue massage, ultrasound therapy are all manual therapies used at Osteo and Physio. Combinations of treatment may be used to treat chronic back pain. A wide range of treatment options is offered at Osteo and Physio, including Pilates and sports therapy.

Call us today to make an appointment for your back pain.