Injuries and Spring Time Tasks

During my master’s program we learned about the term ‘Weekend Warriors”. The term was used to describe individuals who work at a sedentary job during the week and then complete physical, heavy tasks on the weekend. These individuals may become injured as their bodies are not used to the increased heavy work. With the nicer spring time weather approaching many people will start to become these ‘weekend warriors’.

Spring time tasks may include yard work which may require raking, bending to pick up sticks and other springtime debris, and prolonged bending to work up ground in flower beds and plant new flowers. Even though I try to be physically active during the week, after a long weekend of spring cleanup of our yard I find my back feels like it had a big work out and may remain sore for a couple days.

Another heavy task may include changing tires of a vehicle from snow tires to regular tires, which includes repetitive bending and heavy lifting. Springtime may also include cleaning the inside and outside of vehicles. This task includes repetitive bending, reaching, and awkward positions.

Luckily my husband always completes the job of climbing onto the roof and cleaning all the leaves out of the eaves troughs, but by the time he is done he tends to mention about pain is his back and knees from being bent over for so long.

Although these tasks need to be completed some things that may help decrease the chance of injury during the task or pain after completion may include: a proper warm up including a short walk and dynamic stretches, and a proper cool down including static stretches once the task has been completed.

So if you think you are strong like a warrior, remember to protect your body from injury and pain before entering the battlefield of a task.

Nicole Weishar BSc HBKin MScPT