Prepping Your Body for Spring Gardening

The snow is gone! We’ve had days in the 50s and 60s, so you are probably itching to do your gardening, right? 

Before you grab that rake or shovel, remember, it’s still early, and your body may not be ready to switch from snow shovel to spade. Let’s review the basics for keeping your back healthy as you itch to garden, since the days are getting longer. 

Evaluate the Situation

Is it really time to make the lawn look pretty now that the snow is gone? First you need to evaluate not only the weather, but how wet the lawn is according to the Get Busy Gardening blog. Since you may need to leave the rake in the garage for a bit longer, consider getting a start on preparing your body. 

Now is the time to get your whole self ready for the gardening season. Here are a few ideas:

• Take more walks in order to get your muscles limber and boost your heart rate

• Do some squats

• Take the plank challenge to build your core

• Stretch every day

• Set water drinking goals and keep hydrated

When you are ready to rake the lawn, don’t forget to stand up straight and don’t twist your back. We have more raking tips for avoiding injury here. 

Spring Garden Clean Up Checklist

Just because you probably should wait to rake, doesn’t mean you can’t be outside soaking up the sun. You can get started:

• Planting starter plants

• Pulling dead growth

• Pulling weeds

• Removing mulch

• Cleaning out pots

• Cleaning up the vegetable garden 

These are all amazing ideas, but remember if you want to save your back while gardening, you should:

• Take a break

• Drink some water 

• Sit for a while 

• Do some stretches 

• And, take in a bit of nature’s beauty 

When discussing gardening and your health, you can easily remember these tips that spell BACK from the Ontario Chiropractic Association:

Before you start, warm-up your muscles.

Avoid muscle strain, learn the right techniques.

Change positions frequently.

Kneel to plant and weed.

Spinal check-ups can help keep your back healthy.

The Next Day Recovery

We know you are excited to be out in nature, so you might overdo it. If you do, take an epsom salt bath to help your muscles relax. 

If you have some real pain, consider icing the throbbing muscle. If you have questions about using ice or heat, here’s a quick guide. 

We are here to help evaluate your pain and keep your body in tip top condition for the rest of the gardening season. Make an appointment today to keep you going all summer long. 

Photo credit: Markus Spiske on Unsplash