Chiropractic Tips of the Month: Summer is Shaping Up

If you’ve been inactive over the winter, it’s easy to cause an injury whether you’re gardening, playing tennis or simply taking a hike. Exercise is very beneficial for your entire body – including your back. Weight-bearing activities such as hiking, brisk walking, stair climbing and dancing all strengthen your bones, muscles and joints and may help protect you against osteoporosis, a serious disease that results in deterioration of bone mass, especially in older people. Even a little activity three to four times a week can go a long way to improving your overall health and well-being.

Your chiropractor can provide you with advice and exercises to stretch and strengthen muscles so you can be free of pain regardless of your activity. It is a good idea to consult a chiropractor before beginning a new fitness program in order to receive guidance about the kind of activities that would most benefit you.

Gardening Tips:

Stretch Before You Start: Warming-up your muscles with stretches before going into the garden helps to reduce the stress and strain on your joints and muscles, reducing the chance of injury.

Bend Your Knees to Lift with Ease: When lifting, keep your back straight and bend your knees. Always carry the load close to your body. Always pivot and avoid twisting.

The right tools, the right moves: Use the right tools and moves for the job. Kneel to plant and change positions frequently when raking, digging, hoeing or pruning. Use ergonomically designed, long handled, lightweight tools.

Take a Break Before It Aches: As a rule-of-thumb, take a brief rest or stretch break at least three times each hour, and drink fluids frequently.