Fall Yard Work

 

This time of year is sometimes a struggle for me, personally.  I really don’t like the shorter days and earlier sunsets, and if you’re in the office any time soon you’ll probably hear me ranting about how I do not understand the purpose of “Falling Back” and Daylight Savings.  It is a frustration of mine, twice a year 😊

One part of the fall I do enjoy is the changing of colors outside, and making big leaf piles with my kids.  Speaking of which…it’s time for outside “Fall Cleaning”!

Fall yard work, leaf raking and other outdoor activities carry numerous risks, including upper and lower back strain, neck strain and shoulder pain. Just like sports, this type of physical activity can increase your chances of getting hurt if your body isn’t properly prepared for it. You can avoid these types of injuries by warming up, stretching and maintaining good posture as you go about your work.

While raking your yard, good posture can also prevent back problems—make sure you keep your back straight and your head up! Use common sense while working: lift with your legs and bend with your knees, taking care that you don’t strain your back while picking up bundles of leaves and grass. If you’re likely to carry heavy items, hold them close to your body to help prevent back strain. In order to take the pressure off your back, rake using the “scissors” stance: put your right foot forward and the left one back, then reverse after a few minutes. When using a lawn mower, try to use your core body weight to move it as opposed to your arms and back.

Also remember that it’s important to pace yourself and take some breaks. Maybe not week-long breaks…though…or else we will then be shoveling the leaves! Switching tasks regularly can help prevent repetitive motion injuries in vulnerable muscle groups—change body positions, or simply move onto another job for a short period of time before returning to the previous one.

Investing in extra protective gear like gloves to prevent blisters can make life easier while taking on outdoor chores. Ergonomic tools with extra padding, larger or curved handles are less tiring to use over a long-time period.  Work smart…not just hard!

One of the most useful things you can do to help prevent accidents and injuries is to have a plan for what you want to accomplish and to make sure that you have realistic expectations about how much you can get done in the time available. If you’re unaccustomed to physical labor, chances are pretty good that you’ll feel a bit stiff or possibly sore the next day. If this happens, you can use ice to soothe the discomfort. Of course, chiropractic care is always available if you need it.

As a chiropractor, I consider myself an expert in diagnosing and treating a wide variety of conditions that affect the musculoskeletal and nervous system. I see it every year, and I know from experience how easy it is for fall clean-up to unexpectedly go wrong. Please be smart and take reasonable precautions! Raking is one of the "Four Chiropractic Seasons"...along with Snow Shoveling, Gardening, and Spring Cleaning.  Stay safe and healthy and keep your muscles and joints happy with some HANDS-ON chiropractic care!