Particularly if the weather is dry and warm
The Easter Bank Holiday weekend is fast approaching and it is the time of year when many of us get the opportunity to get out in the garden, to attend to things that we have not been able to deal with during the Winter months, particularly this Winter with the ground being persistently sodden and wet.
Hence, as we have four consecutive days to attack the garden, we often choose to spend many hours each day, across the whole weekend attempting to get the garden in shape for the Spring and upcoming Summer.
The issue of concern, is that we have not undertaken such physical activity since we last worked on the garden, almost six months ago, and our emotional desire and gusto to get out there and sort everything out, overrides our natural instinct to take things slowly.
To be honest in our practice we pray for a warm, dry Easter. Not because we too are keen gardeners ourselves, but because we know that the telephone will be ringing incessantly as the result of four days of dry, sunny weather.
So we write to advise you to be slightly more cautious in your activities this Easter. If you are choosing to rake up leaves and other spoil on the garden, make sure that you do not always rake from one side. Alternate hands ones during the raking period. Now, if you are right handed, it may take a moment to co-ordinate the activity in the left hand, but it will be beneficial, as you will be balancing the load in your low back, as opposed to accentuating the forces on just one side.
If you are looking to do some weeding, make sure that you weed directly in front of you. Do not lean across to one side and twist and stretch. Ensure that you move your kneeler regularly, such that you are always working in front of you.
If you are looking to pull roots out of the ground, ensure that you have removed as much of the soil around the roots before you attempt to heave them out. As to use a particular force to pull the roots out that does not result in them coming out as you would wish, but staying in the ground, is one way to most definitely injure your low back.
If you are looking to move heavy plant pots, again as with the root removal, ensure that you have a very clear idea of the weight of the plant pots so that you can apply the necessary force to lift them. If you attempt to lift them and they do not move as you would wish, it is most probable that you will damage your back.
Finally, if you are someone who likes to prepare appropriately before you engage in any activity, particularly one you have not undertaken for more than six months, might we suggest that you visit us at Ilkley Chiropractic Clinic, before you embark on your Easter Weekend Mission, so that we can ensure that you are functioning to your optimal musculoskeletal performance and hence minimise the possibility of injury.
18th March 2024