Getting a Green Thumb Without The Lower Back Blues
Summer is in full swing here in Orange County (and everywhere else of course!) and, it’s a good time to get out and make sure the lawn looks top notch, and the flower beds look gorgeous.
My wife and I like to get out and do a little work in the yard. Not only do we make the backyard look great, we get some fresh air too!
While gardening can be therapeutic, it also can lead to problems if you aren’t too careful. No, I’m not talking about thorny rose bushes! I’m talking about potential dangers, like lower back pain, from a variety of things, including bad posture!
Believe it or not, over the course of a couple of hours in the yard, you will do a lot of kneeling, twisting, leaning, and lots of bending. You may joke that you feel old if you experience soreness after a day in the yard, but the pain from all the contorting can impact anyone. Our Irvine wellness team is constantly offering tips to prevent the pain; here are some if you’re headed into the garden.
Stretch Before You Start
Before you head out into the yard, give the body a little stretch. You may laugh, but you should treat gardening like an exercise. With all the movements, it will help to properly stretch out before you start. You won’t be laughing if you tweak a muscle in your lower back. A little warm-up can go a long way to maintaining your health.
Break Frequently
We have our honey-do lists, and we like to get them done all at once. But give yourself a break every now and then to stand up and stretch, and have a glass of water to rehydrate. If you have to power through, because we get it, you’ve got other stuff on the list, alternate tasks so you aren’t in the same position or doing the same tasks for an extended period.
Practice Good Posture
Pulling weeds doesn’t seem too strenuous, but if you’re bending over for long periods of time, you are not doing your back any favors. Avoid bending from the waist. Find something to cushion your knees and kneel on the ground. Use an old rolled-up towel to cushion your body. Staying closer to the chore will keep your body more comfortable.
Our chiropractic team of wellness doctors, Vasili Gatsinaris, James Kim, and Adam Abulghualya specialize in chiropractic and wellness care. Our Irvine chiropractic office is located near John Wayne Airport, convenient for people living in Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Tustin, Santa Ana and other surrounding Orange County communities.
Let our Orange County chiropractic team make a plan and treat your injury so that you are not restricted from your active lifestyle. To learn more about our variety of services or to schedule an appointment, take advantage of our Facebook new patient special and contact us or call 949-263-9003 today.