Yard Work Often Causes Back Or Knee Pain
It’s Spring and you are probably working on getting your garden ready for the growing season. That means hours of bending over flowerbeds, or resting on your knees to weed. Both these activities and almost all yard work involves using muscles and joints you haven’t used for months. Trying to avoid back and knee pain during yard work takes effort. The Physical Therapists at Elite Spine & Sports Care of Totowa are experts at helping you prepare your body for strenuous garden maintenance.
Gardening Is Hard On The Body
Repetitive movement or being in the same position for extended periods of time can strain muscles, joints and ligaments. Yard work is actually exercise, and involves repetitive movement. Not too many people actually think of preparing their body for yard work, but why not? You train for races, tennis, or any competitive sport. While gardening isn’t competitive, it does work the muscles and joints like sports do.
Tips To Avoid Pain While Doing Yard Work
Here are some ways to avoid back & knee pain during yard work:
- Like with any sport, stretching before you start, during and after gardening will help keep your muscles and joints limber.
- Try not to stay in the same position for too long. Take breaks or change the activity.
- Always keep good posture in mind. Try not to hunch over or cross your legs. It may seem like a comfortable way to do a certain task, but you’ll feel it later.
- Use knee pads when a job requires kneeling. This not only provides relief to your knees, it also keeps them from getting soiled.
Prepare Your Body With Physical Therapy
The experience and knowledge of our Physical Therapy staff can be invaluable in preparing you for yard work. If you don’t think of seeking preparation before you start, you may find you’d like our help after you’ve been working in the garden. Our therapists are here to help address areas of pain and relieve them. We want you to get back to doing the things you enjoy and be pain free. Give us a call at (862) 239-1768 and make an appointment.