Mississauga and Oakville Pain Clinic offering chiropractic, physiotherapy, massage therapy and orthotic services to residents of Churchill Meadows InMississauga
Gardening is a great way for you to stay active and have fun in the sun. Unfortunately, many Ontarians sustain gardening injuries that can be easily prevented with a little know-how. In fact, today I had a patient complaining of low back after lifting ten bags of soil from his car to the backyard!
If you do not exercise regularly, you have a higher chance of injuring your low back. Most of the time, the back pain is caused due to a strained low back muscle. To tend your garden and protect yourself from injury, follow these tips to loosen up and lighten the load on your back.
Loosen up before you start to garden and protect yourself from injury
Warm-Up
Before you begin any physical activity, warming up is your first step to prevent an injury. Take a walk, even on the spot. Ten to 15 minutes should do it. Don’t forget to lift your knees and gently swing your arms.
Stretch Before You Start
To plant and rake without the ache, do each of these stretches for your upper and lower body five times. Don’t bounce, jerk or strain. Stretches should be gentle and should not cause pain.
Upper Body Stretches
For Your Sides
Extend your right arm over your head.
Bend to the left from the waist.
Hold for 15 seconds and repeat on the other side.
For Your Arms and Shoulders
Hug yourself snugly.
Slowly rotate at the waist as far as is comfortable to the left, then to the right.
For Your Back
In a seated position, bend forward from the hips, keeping your head down.
Reach for the ground.
Lower Body Stretches
For Your Thighs
Face a wall or tree and support yourself against it with one arm.
Bend your right knee and grasp your ankle or pant leg with your left hand.
Hold for 15 seconds and repeat on the other side.
For Your Hamstrings
Stand.
Reach your hands to the sky.
Then bend at the waist and reach toward your toes.
Hold for 15 seconds.
To tend your garden and protect yourself from injury:
Kneel, don’t bend, to plant
Change your body position often
Take frequent breaks
Alternate between light and heavy chores
Drink lots of water
If you suffer an injury, visit a chiropractor so you can get back to doing the things you love to do like gardening.
To book a free chiropractic consultation click here or call 905-593-1605. In Ontario, you can visit a chiropractor without a referral from a doctor, nurse practitioner or other health care professional.