Spring Has Sprung! Protect Your Back While Doing Yard Work!

Spring has sprung! We all know that this means yard work! Working in the yard can be enjoyable and satisfying with beautiful results. It can also mean back – breaking work! With few simple tips, you’ll be able to enjoy the benefits of beautiful lawn with out breaking your back!

  1. While raking, use short strokes and alternating guiding the rake with either hand. Avoid long passes with the rake.
  2. If you mull weeds, get on all fours with padding under your knees. Alternate reaching for weeds with both hands.
  3. While on your hands and knees let your stomach sink toward the ground, keeping your hips over your knees. This helps to restore your low backs natural curve.
  4. Take frequent breaks to allow your back and muscles a little "breather". Get up, walk around and chat with your neighbor.
  5. Keep well hydrated. Your muscles, joints, and ligaments need plenty of lubrication to keep working.
  6. Use a good quality sunscreen on exposed areas. Don’t use last year’s sunscreen, it maybe expired. Use at least SPF 15.
  7. While cutting grass, a push mower is better on your body than a riding lawn mower. Pushing a mower is good exercise. Most people feel better when they do more walking than sitting.
  8. To use a push mower, stand erect. Avoid bending a t the waist with outstretched arms. Stand upright with your arms bent at the elbows and held closer to your body.
  9. If you insist on using a riding mower, take a break from sitting every hour and walk around.
  10. If you will be loading piles of pine straw from the ground to a wheelbarrow, etc., do so in small increments. Do only a few at a time. Take your time on this task. It can be one of the worst outside jobs. Avoid twisting your back to load the wheelbarrow. Act like a robot and move your entire body to transfer the pine straw from the ground to your wheelbarrow.
  11. To lift anything from the ground, squat at the knees, do not bend from the waist. Your back will be happier if you strictly adhere to this rule.
  12. Have fun and enjoy the beautiful weather.

If you have any questions, please ask. We will be glad to help. Have a great spring.