Posted 09/23/2010
Yea, I know it’s cheesy, but hey it works. With fall comes a little outdoor work, and one of the biggies is raking leaves. In our clinic we try to help patients understand the importance of overcoming right side dominant tendencies which can be seen when you rake. With rare exception, when people rake, they stand with their weight shifted to the right and position the right hip behind the left. Next, we pull the rake in front of ourselves from right to left by rotating through the trunk to the left. Because of the way our bodies are made it is just easier and more natural to do it this way, but it also feeds into a pattern that increases imbalances in our bodies that lead to dysfunction and pain. Therefore, we recommend that you try to change things up by doing just the opposite. Try it. You’ll find it awkward at first, but with some diligence you’ll get the hang of it and likely find you have less back discomfort after you rake this year.
Along with the idea of shifting your weight to the left, positioning the left hip behind the right hip and pulling the rake in front of you to the right, I suggest you also try to use a broom this way, and in a few months try to shovel snow the same way. And if you’re a gardener who will be digging up your garden this fall to prepare for next spring, try to support your weight on your left leg as you push the shovel into the ground with your right foot, then turn the shovel over clockwise with your right hand being closer to the shovel head than the left hand. I hope this helps you experience less discomfort this fall with your outdoor chores.
To email Dave with any questions or comments, !
Posted September 23, 2010 at 9:23am by David Drummer.
Tagged With: Cross Training • 0 Comments
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