Yard Work & Gardening: Alleviate Muscle Pain this Spring

When spring rolls around, many people like to enjoy the weather by gardening and doing yard work. While this is a great way to get some fresh air, these activities can also lead to a lot of aches and pains. At Tacoma Chiropractic Center in Tacoma, WA, our team will guide you on how to avoid muscle pain from gardening and yard work. Our chiropractor provides treatment if you do experience an injury or chronic pain. We will help you get back to a healthy, pain-free life.

How to Prepare Your Body for Yard Work and Gardening

Gardening and yard work are forms of exercise. Therefore, it is important to warm up and stretch your muscles before getting started. In doing so, you can help prevent discomfort, pain, and injuries.

Ideally, you should spend roughly five to 10 minutes stretching your major muscle groups before heading outside. Try to focus on your shoulders, back, arms, and legs when performing your stretches. Roll your neck and stretch out your hamstrings. Don’t forget a short stretching session when you’re done to cool down your muscles and prevent the risk of cramps.

You can start easy by stretching your arms above your head as far as they will go and leaning over to each side, backwards, and forwards all the way until you touch the ground. Another good stretch to do is circles with your arms, starting out small and getting bigger. Finally, you should perform some lunges.

If you know you will be doing tasks that would normally require you to bend over, such as pulling weeds or planting flowers, lay down a gardening pad or towel. This ensures that you can focus on keeping your spine straight rather than bending at the waist and placing strain on your back and joints.

Alleviating Muscle Pain 

If you end up experiencing any kind of muscle pain as a result of yard work and gardening, there are a few different techniques you can put to use to help alleviate some of your discomfort. First and foremost, rest. You have already overexerted yourself out in the yard, so you do not want to continue to do this inside. Get plenty of rest and keep yourself hydrated.

You can also utilize cold and heat therapy for the first few days to see if it will help alleviate the pain. Ideally, you should use ice packs for the first two days, and then switch over to heat, applying them to the areas where you are experiencing discomfort. If your pain does not subside, visit our chiropractor. We offer adjustments, massage therapy, rehabilitation, and more to help your body heal and recover.

Visit Our Chiropractor in Tacoma, WA for Muscle Pain Relief

If you continue to experience muscle pain, you may need chiropractic care. At Tacoma Chiropractic Center in Tacoma, WA, our chiropractor offers personalized care and will alleviate your pain naturally. It is important not to wait to seek treatment, as your condition could worsen. We are happy to answer any questions you have. Call us today to schedule an appointment.