Summer brings people outside in droves to engage in any number of activities, but no matter your exercise of choice, we hope that you approach those activities with care. One wrong move is really all it takes to change your summer from one of outdoor fun to one of indoor injury recuperation.
A new report highlights a variety of activities that individuals are likely to take part in over the coming months, and it also offers an assortment of tips on avoiding injuries related to those same things. So whether you plan on tending to your yard or getting outside to play some golf, there should be something there that will appeal to your best interests.
Let’s start with something that wouldn’t be construed as a sport but is certainly going to be taxing in terms of physical activity, and that’s simple yard work. In some cases, this can prove to be more of a physical burden than a standard workout, especially when people neglect to take the proper precautions.
First, try to minimize excessive leaning and bending while you’re carrying heavy objects. Let’s say that you’re transporting a sack full of sod to the garden. If you twist your body during transport or when you’re on your knees in the garden, the excessive weight can pull your back out of alignment and cause a painful injury that you’ll be dealing with for days or longer if the injury is something like a herniated disc.
You can avoid this by being fluid and confident in your every movement. When you attempt to lift something, keep your feet the same distance apart as your shoulders and bend your knees rather than your back. You’re trying to decrease the burden on your back, and using your legs to take the weight can accomplish that. Deposit the object where it needs to go, and instead of reaching out for it or moving it further by dragging it, always go back to that initial movement, no matter how short the distance you need to transport the item.
If yard work isn’t in your future, though, then maybe golf is. When that’s the case, you have to treat golf like any other activity, and that starts with executing the proper stretches prior to heading to the links. Stretching will help your body to remain fluid, especially if you target those sections of your frame that are going to be pressured by each swing.
Just like with yard work, you also want to swing in a way that protects your back. If your movements are off, your back runs the risk of sustaining intense stress, and you might work with a trainer to improve things in a way that does service to your health.
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