For most of us, a long winter results in a long period of inactivity, but jumping into gardening at the first sight of the sun can often lead to injured or aching muscles and joints.
In fact, eighty per cent of Ontario chiropractors report that gardening is the most common source of back and neck pain during the warm weather season. With the busiest gardening weekends just around the corner, it’s time to discuss how to plant and rake without the ache!
All avid gardeners understand that you must prepare the grounds before you plant; the same is true for gardening itself. To help avoid injury, you must prepare your body before you start any gardening activities. This starts with a proper warm up.
A good warm up may include a brisk 10 minute walk around the block, as this will increase circulation to the muscles and joints used during gardening. Once warmed up, it is essential to stretch your muscles.