Hello spring!

If the rain has not washed away all your hopes of sunshine and spring, we hope you are looking forward to the long Bank Holiday weekend. With the outlook for better weather, you may be tempted to venture out into the garden, onto the golf course or up onto the hills for longer walks.

​After what feels like an eternity the prospect of getting outside is almost too much to bear. But a word of caution as you emerge from hibernation, your body might need a little bit of warming, or should I say warning before e the vigorous demands of the garden take their toll! It is quite normal to feel a few aches and pains in the lower back as your body adjusts to moving more vigorously again.

Nonetheless, as many of you are aware, it is not only those who overdo the gardening that can suffer from back ache, those who sit at a desk all day also are at increased risk as their abdominal and back muscles become increasingly weaker.
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According to the 2014 Review, Prevention of Low Back Pain by Dr Maher et al. exercise can play a significant role in helping those with lower back pain. Dr Maher prescribes exercise as, "exercise strengthens the muscles that support and control the spine, meaning that your spine is better able to cope with the load that you put on it during daily life, secondly the tissues that make up the spine, ligaments, discs and bones need regular movement and activity to stay strong and healthy."

​Exercise, movement, and motion are our medicine; and should become our daily prescription for healthy living.
Try these out over the coming weeks, to help ease you into summer!

1. ​Seated glutes stretch 
2. Wall calf stretch 

If any of these exercises causes pain, contact one of our team for further advice and treatment or book online. Do not leave it to go away on its own, the earlier the treatment is carried out the better. You should exercise and keep fit so that you can enjoy your gardening and other leisure activities, rather than using your gardening as an exercise to keep fit.