More than four years ago I had a very tiny accident, but it changed my life forever. I stopped to help a stranger in need and ironically the end result was that I was the one with a nagging rib and back injury, one that just wouldn’t go away. After countless tests, therapies and treatments, I finally turned to a Chiropractor. Now I can say for me, seeing a Chiropractor on a regular basis has improved my quality of living! It’s taken a very long time, but I’m finally getting back to being the fun and active Mommy that I like to be. Rollercoasters, volleyball games, playing on the beach and yes even creating a garden, are all back on my list of possibilities. It’s so important to take care of yourself and your back!
Now I don’t have a green thumb, but those that do have been hard at work over the last month kneeling, planting, lifting, twisting, seeding and weeding to ensure their gardens are ready to grow. As a result, chiropractors tend to see more back injuries from poor positioning and lifting during springtime gardening. Did you know that improper gardening techniques can cause repetitive strain injuries of the wrist and elbow, and cause wear and tear on joints and muscles throughout the body?
This is why the Ontario Chiropractic Association is offering one lucky reader of How To Survive Life in the Suburbs a chance to win this fabulous Plant and Rake Without the Ache Tool Kit!
Valued at $100 this fabulous prize contains a garden tool bag filled with tools, a knee pad, water bottle and an assortment of seeds to help your garden grow!
Need tips on how to keep your back at it’s best? Be sure to follow the Ontario Chiropractic Association on Facebook and Twitter. (pst you should really check them out because this will provide you extra entries for this giveaway!)
Read these Tips from the Experts and then enter using the Rafflecopter form below!
As part of the Plant and Rake Without the Ache education campaign, the Ontario Chiropractic Association has the following tips for gardeners to help avoid unnecessary backyard back injuries this spring:
· Warm Up – Gardening is hard work! Make sure you stretch your thighs, shoulders, sides, arms, back and hamstrings before you start to get the most out of your gardening.
· Alternate – Switch from heavy tasks to light ones, and change your hands and positions frequently.
· Lift Light and Right – Always bend with your knees and keep a straight back. Carry the load close to your body.
· Kneel to Plant – Knee pads or a kneeling mat can help to ease the strain on your back while you plant and weed your garden. Keep a straight back and stop when you need to have a break.
· Rake Right – Put one leg in front and another behind when you rake, and alternate on occasion to minimize the back strain
Remember these tips when you head outside today! Please enter using the Rafflecopter form provided. Contest is open to Ontario Residents only and closes August 9, 2013.
I alternate positions and do stretches 🙂
Lots of stretching and breaks!
I alternate between tasks
Warming up is SO important, I learned that the hard way. My Dad’s garden was overgrown with morning glory so every morning I would dig and pull in the search for roots so that I could plant a garden for my wedding many moons ago. I’m much more careful now 🙂 good luck Ontario residents this would be great to win 🙂
Now, I’ll use all the tips! (I use most of them, but I never thought to warm up before!)
I always bend at the knees when lifting and when I weed I sit down lol.
This is a great gift to win , thank you for the chance
Stretching before I garden saves me from the aches and pains.
I would love this..I need some new gardening items..mine are all worn out! thanks!
I always kneel when planting or weeding. When digging a big hole, I stand up. But one thing I always do is wear gloves.
Put one leg in front and another behind when you rake, and alternate on occasion to minimize the back strain
The tip I use is – I kneel to plant!
Great little grab bag of goodies here (crossing my fingers to win).
Wishing you a lovely day.
xoxo
I definitely kneel when gardening, and stretch out every ten minutes or so
I usually kneel to plant and try to warm up before I start any major gardening project. To be honest this year I’m behind my plan for the garden 😉 this rainy-sold spring didn’t help either.
Kneel to plant