Posted by Dr. Michael Weir | Posted in Gardening | Posted on 14-04-2011
Tags: advice, back pain, Bellevue Chiropractor, Gardening, gardening tips, health, healthy gardening, injury prevention, proper lifting
Its that time of the year again in Washington! Now that the sun has finally come out again its time to get back in to the garden. Bending, twisting, pulling, and stooping are a big part of gardening, yet rarely do we think of gardening as a physical activity. “Many people think gardening as an innocuous activity, but it puts the body in positions it hasn’t been in for months-bending, sitting on the ground, stooping, working on all fours,” says Dr. Hancock, DC of Chicago.
We have to start thinking about gardening activities much like we would think about participating is a sporting activity. “To warm up, walk for five to 10 minutes to get your heart rate up While you garden, divide your activity into thirds- (movements affecting the body) below the waist, between the waist and shoulders, and above the shoulders, doing each for 10 to 15 minutes,” he says.
Before and after your gardening activities, Kathi Casey, ERYT, CPI, a health coach and trainer recommends a routine of short stretches for the spine. “Sit tall in a straight chair with your feet on the floor. Inhale deeply as you slowly arch your spine; then exhale slowly as you curl. Avoid straining your neck,” she says.
Last week I had a patient who injured his back while moving a heavy boulder out of his yard. For those bigger yard projects, Debbie Mandel, MA, a fitness and stress management expert and author of Addicted to Stress: A Woman’s 7-Step Program to Reclaim Joy and Spontaneity in Life, recommends doing some strength training to prepare. “To strengthen upper extremities, she prefers triceps extensions and wrist curls with dumbbells. To strengthen shoulders for overhead movements, use two dumbbells in a military press and shoulder raises. “Remember to hold your abdominals in tightly to support your back and recruit core strength, and to exhale on exertion,” she adds.
Don’t start preparing for this gardening season until after an injury. If you find yourself in an injured state never hesitate to call my office and we would be glad to offer our help.
Dr. Michael Weir is a practicingBellevue chiropractor. He can be found at Back in Action Chiropractic at 1940 116th Ave NE #101, Bellevue WA 98004, or by calling (425) 635-0495.
