Ever had back pain after completing yard work? It could be because of your form with lifting, bending over, etc.
When working in the yard, you need to be mindful of your posture to decrease back pain, poor repetitive motions that could increase current injuries, and overall activation of the appropriate muscles with lifting. I recommend 1/2 kneeling or quadruped/on all fours with planting or pulling weeds. When lifting heavy bags like gravel or mulch, focus on hinging at your hips and knees to encourage activation of the glutes and maintain a neutral spine instead of rounding your back. Never pick up more than you can manage and find other resources when moving heavy objects to avoid injuries.
Shakyra Cooper, PT, DPT, Cert CN
