Garden Without Lower Back Pain the next Day

One of the most common complaints after gardening exercise is lower back pain.  Many gardening movements require strength and flexibility in the lower back such as shoveling, weeding and planting.  It is important to warm up before you start gardening with a 5-10 minute walk and take regular breaks.

Here are a few exercises to strengthen and stretch your lower back and abdominals to get you ready to garden

Bridge

Benefits of the exercise: This is a great exercise to strength the muscles of your gluts (buttocks) and eases pain in the lower back.

Tips:

• Keep your feet close enough into your bum that you can graze your hands on the back of your shoes
• Lift your hips to knee height

How many should I do?:

• Try 10-12

Video:

Plank (from knees or toes)

Benefits of the exercise: Strengthens abdominals and shoulders

Tips:

• If you feel any lower back discomfort when you do this exercise try it from the knees
• Make sure that your hips are not sagging down. 

How long should I hold it?

• 30-45 seconds.

Bird/Dog

Benefits of the exercise: This exercise is great for the muscles that support your spine, your balance and your brain health. 

Tips:

• Line your knees up underneath your hips and your hands underneath your shoulder
• Only lift to hip height

How many should I do?

• 8-10  on either side

Video:

Lower Back Stretch

Benefits of the exercise: Easy way to stretch your lower back and shoulders

Tips:

• You can use the fence in your backyard during one of your gardening breatk
• For a deeper stretch move your feet farther away from the wall

How long should I hold it for?

• 30-60 seconds

I would also recommend stretching your wrists out after gardening

Wrist Stretch

Benefits of the exercise: This is a great exercise to stretch the muscles and tendons of your wrist

Tips:

• Stop if you feel pain
• Keep the elbow straight but not locked

How long should I hold it for?

• 30 seconds either side

Vintage Fitness is offering free virtual personal training consultations.

Learn more and sign up: https://www.vintagefitness.ca/virtual-training-for-adults-over-50

Good Luck!

Erin

Vintage Fitness

Vintage Fitness is an in-home personal training company in Toronto, Canada. We specialize in energizing the lives of people over 50 with exercise.