14/05/2022
Tending flower beds, top dressing lawns and general yard work is the most common source of neck and back pain or injury during the warmer months. Statistics Canada reports that more than 50% of Canadians are in the gardens or yards up to six times a month. Here are some tips to stay pain free this gardening season:
1. PREPARE FIRST
This is a workout, and it’s been a full year since you have been at it, but people often just want to get going. You need to warm up. Start with some gentle stretches for your sides, legs shoulders and back. Get a sweat going before you start by going for a walk or start by mowing the lawn to get the blood flowing through the joints.
2. TAKE IT EASY
People will get back from the garden nursery eager to dive into it. Don’t be a hero. Make several trips from the car to the garden, use a cart or wheelbarrow, and take smaller loads when moving heavy pots or bags of soil.
3. GET READY TO KNEEL
How often do you see someone bent at the back? Instead of bending or crouching, kneel whenever you can. Use knee pads or a gardening mat for support, so your joints don’t get aggravated.
4. TAKE BREAKS & SWITCH THINGS UP
You want to make sure that you take breaks and stay hydrated, because it is hot out there. Don’t be too ambitious and spread the work over a couple of weekends. Avoid lifting heavy objects immediately after prolonged bending or kneeling. Take a short rest between activities, or ask for help.
5. SEE YOUR MASSAGE THERAPIST
Massage therapy can keep working muscles pliable and pain free, reducing injuries, and speeding recovery if an injury has already occurred.