As you say goodbye to summer and the fall weather rolls in, you may find yourself making a long list of fun fall activities you want to get done before the holidays hit. From pie making and corn mazes to bonfires and football games, there are so many activities for everyone to enjoy. While these activities are a fun way to spend time with your friends and family, there are a few activities that may leave you with back pain if you aren’t careful.
If you want to maintain good back posture during your favorite fall activities, our team at Ogden Chiropractic has a few tips to help you do that. Keeping yourself safe during these activities and maintaining good back posture is crucial if you want to enjoy them for the full season. To learn more about our tips and tricks to maintain good back posture this fall, keep reading.
1. Carving A Pumpkin
Pumpkin carving is a quintessential part of many people’s favorite fall activities. But, if you aren’t careful, this activity may leave you with a sore back and stiff muscles. As you prepare for Halloween’s approach, you may find yourself spending time with your family, carving jack-o’-lanterns. There are a couple of things you can do to avoid this pain and maintain good back posture. First, try carving your pumpkin while standing.
When you carve while sitting at a table, you may find yourself hunched over the pumpkin, leading to back and shoulder pain. If you stand, however, you prevent this hunching and protect your back. Additionally, remember to stretch your arms and back before and throughout the activity. By rolling your shoulders and locking your hands, you soothe potentially irritated muscles, ensuring good back posture.
2. Playing In Fallen Leaves
While you may love playing in piles of fallen leaves through the early fall months, prepping these piles may irritate your back, leading to discomfort for days on end. If you want to play in leaves while maintaining good back postures, there are a couple of things you should do during the preparation period.
When you rake leaves, ensure you are wearing appropriate shoes with adequate support to reduce the strain on your feet and lower back. You should also remember to keep your knees bent slightly and your weight centered. This guarantees that the muscles in your back aren’t agitated, and you don’t end up with sciatica or other more significant back injuries.
3. Picking Fresh Apples
Picking fresh apples through the fall months is a great way to enjoy in-season fruits while spending time with your loved ones. If your family enjoys making fresh apple pies or apple cider, you will probably find yourself at an apple orchard at least once this fall. But, if you aren’t careful, you may end up with unexpected back pain from this activity. Thankfully, there are a few things you can do to prevent this pain from occurring.
You should watch your step as you walk through apple orchards. Fallen apples are obstacles that may lead to stumbles or falls that will injure your back or lead to a rolled ankle. Make sure you’re walking around carefully over these obstacles. When picking the apples, you should also engage your core muscles to prevent your back from overcompensating as you reach overhead. This provides your back with adequate support as you reach for the perfect apple.
4. Going Leaf-Peeping
Leaf-peeping is an especially popular and fun way to enjoy the changing colors in forested areas. But this fall activity does require a bit of hiking to thoroughly enjoy, which may lead to a lapse in good back posture. If you are tired of dealing with back pain during hikes and leaf-peeping and want to maintain good back posture, follow these tips.
If you bring a backpack, ensure it is well-fitted and appropriately packed to balance the weight on your back. You may also want to consider bringing trekking poles with you. Using these poles keeps your body upright, ensuring you maintain good back posture as you head up the trails. When all else fails, schedule breaks. This guarantees you can take a break and give your muscles a rest.
5. Visiting A Haunted House
Visiting a haunted house isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but some people enjoy the adrenaline rush of this fall activity. Whether it is a haunted corn maze or a spooky haunted hospital set, haunted houses are a major fall favorite. While you may find this activity fun, it may leave you with more discomfort than you had anticipated. If you want to maintain good back posture when going through a haunted house, follow these tips.
Be mindful of your posture as you walk throughout. You may want to hunch over the people you brought with you to the haunted house. However, this may lead to muscle tension and back pain. You should also try to watch your step as you go through it. While walkways should be clear, you may still trip while trying to rush through, injuring yourself. To maintain good back posture, watch where you are walking and try to avoid running when the lights are low.
Maintain Good Back Posture With Ogden Chiropractic
With so many fun fall activities, you don’t want back pain to prevent you from enjoying them. At Ogden Chiropractic, we are committed to helping you alleviate existing pain and prevent it from occurring again. With years of experience, our team is confident that they can help you through any pain you are experiencing and teach you how to maintain good back posture.
In addition to treatment for back pain, we provide treatment for auto accident injuries, sports injuries, arthritis, and more. If you are interested in scheduling a chiropractic appointment to treat your existing back pain or would like to speak with a member of our team, contact us today.