As the calendar flips to the fall months it’s a great time to enjoy outdoor activity in the cooler fresh weather. One of these outdoor activities that comes around this time each year is yard work. Putting the gardens to bed and raking up the fallen leaves are classic fall activities around the yard.
Unfortunately, many people sustain gardening injuries that can be easily prevented with a little know-how. Over the years I’ve noticed most of these injuries are a result of too much, too quick for too long. Here’s what I mean.
Picture this…it’s late October and there’s a beautiful forecast for the weekend. The “To Do” list is as follows…rake all the leaves, pull all the plants from the garden, close the pool and put all the patio furniture away. Start at sunrise Saturday and latch the shed door at sundown Sunday…Then comes the horror show that is the aches and pains of Monday.
Here are some tips to make to help you enjoy the fall yard work and reduce your risk of injury.
Spred the work out.
“Life is busy and I just need to get this done.” Trust me….I know, but nothing makes life busier than not being able to move for a week or two because you’ve hurt your back raking the leaves. To ease the volume of work try this. Mulch the leaves while mowing the lawn. It’s great natural fertilizer and eases the volume of raking to be done. Instead of pulling everything out of the garden in one day, keep your garden tools handy and spend 10 or 15 each day for a week or two to cut back or pull out spent plants.
When you have a full day planned for outside work start with a quick warm up. Take a quick walk around the block or even around the yard to get your legs and arms moving and ready for work.
Follow this with some light stretching of your arms, legs and back. Spending 10-15 minutes to prepare your body for work is a great way to help avoid unnecessary injury.
Finally, take frequent breaks and stay hydrated. Even though it’s cooler out consuming water regularly throughout the day will help keep your muscles functioning properly and reduce the risk of injury.
If you suffer an injury or if aches and pains are keeping you from enjoying all the Fall season has to offer give the team of experts at Port Perry Wellness Centre a call. Contact us!
We can help get you back out there!
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