Spring is in the air, and many are planning for the upcoming gardening and lawn care season.
This morning, I came across an article on the ACA website entitled “Pull Your Weeds. Not Your Back, When Gardening.” You can find the article here:
I assume most gardeners would find this article helpful as a reference for stretches. However, I believe that it is somewhat disappointing that “pulling your back” and “feeling muscle aches and pains” are listed as reasons to consider chiropractic care.
Confused? Let me explain. If you are experiencing pain and discomfort or pull a muscle, you undoubtedly have a problem with how your spine is able to function. The vast majority of people have chronic spinal problems because of long-term abuse and neglect. Gardening has just brought out the worst in it, and doing some stretches alone will make little impact. To solve the problem, we must take a step back to find the root cause of the problem, and proceed to get it corrected. Muscles “pull” and pain ensues just like tooth discomfort erupts when you bite down “wrong” on the apple.
Yes, chiropractic care is often the answer for solving the root cause of a problem. However, the key is prevention. A chiropractic checkup is in order BEFORE you get sidelined with an injury. Just like my mom used to say, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” This is the best and most effective way to use chiropractic care. Only then can you implement stretching most effectively, and have confidence in your daily activities including using that “green thumb.”