Here are some tips to avoid the rush to the Chiropractor:
- Always stretch and warm up before you go out in the yard.
2. Don’t try to do all the work on the first weekend of good weather.
3. Bend your knees; avoid leaning forward to lift. When you lift with your knees bent, every pound is multiplied by 1 to your lower back. While keeping your knees locked and bending from your waist, every pound is multiplied by 15. This means 20 pounds of debris would be 300 pounds of pressure to your lower back. OUCH!!
4. When using a rake, make sure you stand up straight and switch hands frequently, having the right hand below the left and then the left hand below the right. By switching, you’ll be utilizing both sides of your lower back – reducing the chance for fatigue that leads to back pain. The same holds true for most garden implements, i.e. shovel, broom, weedwacker, etc.
5. When trying to start your lawn mower, if not electric, stand close to it, and grasp pull rope with hand. Use your arm strength to pull the cord towards you; don’t leave your arm straight and pull with your back. If the mower doesn’t start with the first few pulls, try pulling with the opposite hand.
6. If you are filling garbage bags while they are in a can, don’t try lifting the bag up and out of the can. You’ll be lifting with one hand on the bag while the other holds the can down. You lift, pull, twist and ouch! Lay the can down on its side, bend your knees and gently slide the full bag out.
7. Don’t fill bags so they are too heavy. When you carry the bags to the curb, try carrying a moderately filled bag in each hand to balance yourself.
8. Don’t forget to stretch when you are done!