It’s that time of year again, spring and summer time. It is a time of year which we all try our best to enjoy as much as possible. There isn’t a lot of sun all year round so when we do get prolonged periods of the good stuff we like to enjoy it by going to the beach, going to beer gardens or for a lot of us, getting out in the garden.
As a busy London chiropractor we are aware that this week sees the RHS Chelsea Garden Show. It is an excellent event that really inspires a lot of people to get into their garden and put some work into it.
We think that is great, gardening can be very good for your body and your mind. Getting outside, enjoying fresh air and even working out a little bit can make you feel great. It is a great British past-time and millions of us do it every year.
However we just wanted to urge a tiny bit of caution. We see a lot gardening related aches, pains and injuries at our busy London chiropractic clinic and we want to tell people how to avoid the pain.
London Chiropractor warns against poor form
As much as you might enjoy gardening it can do a lot of damage to your body. Being a leading London Chiropractor we know that poor form and posture can see you suffering quite badly and can even leave stuck indoors on rest duty.
There are a few common problems caused by poor form in the garden such as a bad back, pulling a muscle or suffering from injuries from a fall or a knock.
How to avoid injury
What is the use of all this warning if we don’t offer a bit of advice on how to avoid back pain and injury? The good news is that as a leading London Chiropractor we are keen to offer some simple advice;
- First off it is important that you’re wearing the right clothing. Ensure that whatever you wear is not too tight or restrictive and that you’re wearing supportive footwear.
- Once properly kitted out it is a very good idea to warm up a little bit and stretch a little. It works.
- Once stretched and it is time to get started, it is a good idea to start off with the lighter jobs and leave the heavier ones for when you’ve warmed up.
- When pruning get as close as possible to the jobs, avoid being too far away and over stretching.
- When doing heavy lifting, remember to bend your knees and keep your back straight
- Kneel or squat instead of bending when working on the floor
- Don’t lift anything too heavy on your own and if there are a lot of heavy things to shift, it might be worthwhile investing in a garden trolley
- Finally it is important to vary your work, take regular breaks and drink plenty of water to keep your body healthy and active.
If you want further advice on how best to avoid injury when you’re gardening this summer of if you require treatment for any back pains, please get in touch and we’ll be happy to help.