The gardening season is now in full flow but spring and summer brings many patients to my door as a result of rather over zealous gardening. So, my advice is ‘take it slow’. The key thing to remember is that gardening is equivalent to participating in conventional sports like tennis, athletics and swimming – and as with any sporting activity, it is always important to prepare for the event!
Tip No 1: Warm up with light movement or a brisk walk to loosen your muscles and increase your flexibility.
Tip No 2: Know your strengths and limitations. Do not over-exert, vary your activities, and take regular breaks.
Tip No 3: Avoid bending over repeatedly while standing upright when performing ground-level work like weeding. Get down closer to the task by kneeling or sitting on the ground or a gardening bench, rather than bending and twisting from the waist.
Tip No 4: Carry objects like soil and plants close to your body. Try to avoid ‘the lazy man’s load’ and carry small manageable loads even if it means more trips.
Tip No 5: Long-handled tools to give you leverage and help you avoid having to stoop while raking, digging, pushing or mowing. Remember to switch hands frequently when doing prolonged raking, hoeing or digging actions.
Tip No 6: Rotate tasks, be a bit of a gardening butterfly. Mix some digging with pruning, dead heading, mowing, weeding and hedge trimming but avoid spending one day digging the whole garden.
Tip No 7 : Remember the sunscreen lotion and don’t forget to drink lots of fluids to rehydrate. 
Tip No 8: Sit back and admire your endeavours!
Some general aches and pains after gardening are pretty normal but if you have pain that lasts for more than three days you may need some professional help – don’t hesitate to give me a call to discuss any concerns.
Julia Sayers DC PGCert BA[Hons] MCC MMCA. Tel: 07976 357463
julia@essential-chiropractic.co.uk
www.essential-chiropractic.co.uk
Church Gate, Vicarage Lane, Bovingdon, Hertfordshire, HP3 0LT