Weekend Yard Warriors–This message is for you!

By Chloe Sandberg – CC’s Staff

Weekend Warriors–This message is for you!

I’m a little hesitant to say it, but it seems spring really is upon us! Springtime brings an increase in what we PTs may call increased functional demands – or more commonly known as YARD WORK. On Monday, I heard more than a handful of people talking about how they were out in their yards over the nice weekend “getting stuff done.” To that I say awesome!

But I am here to give a gentle reminder to pay attention to yourself and your body when doing yard work tasks! We have been cooped up inside for so long that we haven’t had these same types of functional demands placed on our bodies (except for the endless hours of snow blowing and shoveling, I guess..). Here are a few tips I would just like to pass along to help keep your body healthy while you get your yard looking pretty:

1. Pace yourself! I completely understand the notion of “once I get going I just want to get it all done”, but if you are someone who had had an injury in the past, namely any kind of back injury, please try to space your tasks out over at least a few days, if not a few weekends.
2. Take frequent breaks! Again, I completely get it – once you get started it is hard to quit. But I assure you your body will thank you if every 5 to 10 minutes you gently remind yourself to “Stand up straight – stretch out a bit – raise my arms overhead” after being bent over a flower bed for 2 hours straight.
3. Drink enough water! This is just a must – do it and quit making excuses to why you don’t drink enough daily! When you increase your physical activity, including with things like yard work, you are increasing your need for hydration.

My tips might seem rather rudimentary, but it never hurts to hear them again and again and again in the hopes you will remember them and do them! 😊 If after a weekend full of yard work you find yourself with an ache or pain that just doesn’t seem to want to calm down, please call and get onto one of our schedule!