Care for

SYOUR back needs as much
gtending as your garden,
gaccording to the B.C.
iChiropractic Association.

As British Columbians enjoy the
pong weather, their enthusiasm for
Mevardening and vard work inc
ve aalong with related back injuries.
“For man people, their bodies
have taid dormant through the winter
‘ menonihs, just like their flower beds.”
avs Dr Don Nixdorf) exceutive
firector of the B.C. Chiropractic
Association, ina t
“Problems a
al stamina or exp rience doesn't
match their cagerne
“People often take on projects like
Bard work or gardening without
Rahinking about how cheir ‘badies will
eact to the exertion. With spring, the
. end of the rainy season
Bnd the first rays of sunshine, people
Meant to bound outside and clean up

Visits to chiropractors and other
calth professionals increase each
pring due to over-enthusiastic gar-
leners, says. Nixdorf, The treatment
fF back and neck injuries costs B.C.
gaxpayers $300 million yearly.

A he costs for health care are ris-
ane every minute, and anything the

public can do tu prevent injury and
gacduce the costs would help.”

Nixdorf has compiled a few casy
ps from B.C.’s chiropractors on how

Ho reduce the chances of injury, and
ake people’s time outdoors more
njoyable,

Give your muscles a chance to
warm up before working in the yard
r garden, Stretch with various move-
nents you will be using in the yard, or

a short 10-15-minute walk

Friday, June 18, 1999 —

back when doing spri

lorih Shore News ~ 94

ng chores

NEWS photo Mike Wakefield

THE start of spring signals increased back pains and strains for gardeners attempting to do too much teo soon.

lower back.

@ Use iong- handled tools. The result-
ing forward and sideways bending can
aggravate the neck or lower back.

To avoid strain and muscle spasm
tch hands

your back straight and use short
strokes to avoid upper arm and neck
strain. Pause after three to five m
utes.

medium-to-small sized loads

through your chores. This helps avoid
sudden strenuous exertion on unused
muscles and joints.

B Keep overhead work to five-minute
episodes. Avoid extreme reaching
with one arm.

vent recurrences of spinal and relat
health problems. Back te
should) deal with flexibiliry first,
strength second.

@ Finally, if'a task seems like too much

work, it probably is. Hire a profe
sional for rasks landscaping, tree-
topping or trimming large hedges.

close to your body, or use a
wheelbarrow to avoid strain on vour
back. Save heavier work for mid-way

on one side of the body, s
frequently while raking or hoeing.
@ When using a hedge trinimer, keep

Avoid prolonged bending, pushing
aud pulling while raking and hocing,
which can strain shoulders or the

§ Knee! rather than bending.
@ Stretching, exercises will help, pre-

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