HEALTH & WELLNESS The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body
NIP PAIN IN THE BUD THIS SPRING
3 Ways To Prevent Back Pain While Gardening
Is the risk of injury holding you back from participating in your favorite springtime activities like gardening? At Restore Physical Therapy, our therapists are movement experts who can help you recover from an injury and even show you how to avoid one in the first place. Springtime is finally here, and with it comes a renewed sense of energy and drive to reach your fitness goals! After a long winter of being stuck inside, it’s more important than ever to stay on top of your health and make sure you’re engaging in physical activities. Gardening is an enjoyable way to get active, especially in the spring! Nothing beats the smell of blooming flowers, fresh air, and warm sunshine. However, at Restore Physical Therapy, we understand that the fear of injury can prevent you from initiating the steps needed for a healthy and active lifestyle, especially if you’ve been injured in the past. If you need an extra push to get ready to engage in your favorite springtime activity, physical therapy can help.
Request an appointment with Restore Physical Therapy today to learn more about how we can help with injury prevention and recovery this spring! How Gardening May Cause Back Pain Back pain typically develops due to an injury, poor postural habits, or repetitive movements like bending. This is why back pain is so common with spring gardening. The repetitive bending, digging, and reaching needed for gardening will often lead to lower back pain. Gardening is a great way to get physical activity, and for a lot of people, the mental/emotional benefits are as important as the physical. Although it is not often viewed this way, gardening is similar to a sports season. Just like athletes need to train in the offseason to have a productive, competitive season, gardeners need to learn how to prepare for their season. Fortunately, our physical therapists can teach you the strategies to resolve injuries, old and new, and how to get into “gardening shape.”
Gardening offers the opportunity to experience the outdoors while working on your green thumb. However, it is essential to take the necessary steps to protect your back from injury while gardening. Below are three tips for pain-free gardening: 1. Warm-up first — Like any other physical activity, it is crucial to warm up before gardening. Morning gardeners need to make sure to walk around, or at least be up and moving, for about 45 minutes before starting any bending or lifting. 2. When in doubt, stick your butt out! — One of the most common mistakes gardeners make is with their technique. Your back is incredibly strong and resilient when you maintain its natural curves. In the lower back, the curve you need to maintain is called lordosis. When you stick your butt out, you will naturally increase the curve, a.k.a lordosis, and protect your back from injuries. Whether you are
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