The sunnier weather will soon be upon us and that means pulling out our green fingers and getting our gardens looking all pretty and perfect in time for the summer. But while visions of lazy hazy summer days may get us all motivated to put our gardening gloves on, we must be mindful to protect our backs in the process. With National Gardening Week starting on the 11th April, our team of Southend chiropractors have compiled a list of handy tips to keep both your garden and your back health in full bloom this Spring:
1: Weed Carefully
Instead of resting on your knees to weed, use a stool to sit on to protect your spine, knees and hips. Remember to keep your back straight when you’re sitting on the stool – even when you lean forward to get to the weeds!
2: Take Care When Digging
To avoid injuring your back through twisting, keep your body in alignment with the direction of the shovel and turn your whole body when you start digging a new area. This advice should also be followed when dumping dirt from a shovel. Yes, it may seem easier to twist rather than moving your body in a half circle, but excessive or awkward twisting can be damaging on your spine and could cause a painful injury.
3: Be Sensible When Lifting Heavy Items
The first rule here is; if something feels too heavy for you to lift, leave it alone! Don’t attempt to lift anything beyond your capability and always arrange for help if you think you are going to struggle. When you do lift a heavy item, bend from your hips and knees instead of your spine and keep your back straight when lifting. Rushing is the indirect cause of many gardening injuries, so take your time and properly plan before you start lugging heavy items around. It may add a few moments to your workload, but it will certainly reduce the risk of you developing a painful injury with potentially long term symptoms.
Stop what you are doing if back pain develops or worsens during gardening and contact your GP for advice if pain or symptoms persist.