How to Avoid Back and Neck Pain While Gardening
Gardening is a hobby where the final result is the reward. Depending on the size of your garden or landscape and what you’re cultivating, gardening can lead to a lot of neck and back pain if you’re not careful. The team at Merivale Chiropractic and Massage Clinic shares several tips on how to avoid back and neck pain while gardening.
Start With a Warm-Up
Since gardening can be physically demanding like a sport, warm up your body with a five-minute walk followed by a stretching routine. Our team can go over an effective group of stretches that match your needs.
Be Mindful of How You Lift
Soil gets heavy fast. Even if you’re working with a lot of smaller potted plants, all that lifting and carrying them around adds up. Practice good lifting techniques and remember to avoid twisting your torso while lifting or carrying heavy loads.
Remember to Stop and Smell the Roses
Taking breaks can help a lot so you don’t overexert yourself. If you have a decent to-do list, whittle each task down in chunks, rotating through the list several times, instead of completing one task before moving on to the next. The variation helps.
Utilize Helpful Gardening Tools
You can minimize how much you need to bend over by utilizing long-handled tools, like weed pullers and water sprayers, and remember to always have a kneeling pad or knee pads ready. Your knees and back will thank you.
Grow Things Up a Level
Growing plants straight out of the ground is good and all, but raised beds and growing containers can be huge neck and back savers. Both are capable of growing a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, roots, and flowers.
Schedule an Appointment Today
If you would like more tips for preventing back and neck pain or relief for existing back or neck pain, you can contact Merivale Chiropractic and Massage Clinic in Ottawa, ON. We offer a range of services, including chiropractic care and massage therapy, that can help you feel your best and prevent pain in the future. You can call us at (613) 226-8142 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
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Neck Pain Treatment
