Back Specialist Overland Park
Back pain is the most common injury resulting from gardening. Every spring the chiropractors at Fulk Chiropractic | Back Specialist Overland Park see an influx of gardening-related injuries to the back.
Muscles that have had very little activity during the winter months are suddenly called upon to stretch and twist over and over again. This repetitive motion often causes muscle strain in the lower back. Activities such as bending, raking, pulling weeds and lifting often causes generalized back pain. Our chiropractic patients describe it as a sore or achy lower back.
Do This As Soon As You Feel The Pain
Many people continue doing gardening activities even after they notice back pain. Don’t wait until the pain is so severe that it forces you to stop.
Take a break, now. Don’t continue raking or pulling weeds until ‘the job is finished’.
Slap on that bag of frozen peas. Well, don’t really slap it on – just place it gently onto your lower back. Wrap it in a towel, first, though. 15 minutes is usually enough for you to feel relief.
Get a checkup from your back specialist Overland Park. If stopping the motion and applying ice throughout the evening doesn’t relieve the pain or if you don’t see any improvement after 2-3 days see your back specialist for a check up to make sure you didn’t pull more than just a muscle.
“But I’ve got to pull weeds!” – Tips on pulling the right way
Pull Weeds While Seated – As a back specialist Overland Park KS, we often instruct patients who enjoy gardening to sit on a bucket while pulling weeds. This takes the pressure off of your lower back. By leaning forward onto your elbow (which is resting on the inside of your knee) you can still reach the ground.
Mulch, Mulch and Mulch Again – Mulching is covering your garden with weed mats, rocks, tree bark and other man-made products that block the light and moisture that weeds need to grow. Pour mulch 4-6 inches deep around the areas of your garden that you decide not to plant and plan to add a little each year. Weeds that never grow, don’t need to be pulled and can help prevent another trip to a back specialist Overland Park.
Build a Raised Bed – Dr. Sandra Liperuote, a back specialist Overland Park, suggests building a raised garden bed that essentially brings your garden bed to you! These beds are usually built on wood or cinder blocks and even have edges where you can sit.
The chiropractors at Fulk Chiropractic, back specialist Overland Park, are sponsoring the Johnson County Home and Garden Show at the Overland Park Convention Center this weekend. They will be offering several tips for healthy gardening and preventing injuries while doing what you love. Learn more about this back specialist Overland Park at www.fulkchiropractic.com. Open 7 Days a Week, Fulk Chiropractic’s 11 chiropractors provide the Kansas City community with over 150 years of combined experience.