Search over 1.4 million articles by over 600 experts
  1. Home
  2. Health
  3. Back & Neck Pain

More from About.com

Browse Topics A-Z

Weeding Out Back Pain - How to Weed on Hands and Knees Without Back Pain

By Anne Asher, About.com

Updated: October 22, 2007

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

1 of 6

Keep a Long Spine While You Weed

A long spine can help to keep you free of tension while you weed your garden.

A long spine can help to keep you free of tension while your weed the garden.

(c) Anne Asher Licensed to About.com

When weeding on all fours, the goal is keep your whole spine long. Because you need to shift around while you work, keeping a long spine requires watching and feeling how your shoulders are bearing responsibility for reaching, grasping and supporting your body weight. Also, be aware of any pockets of muscle tension along your trunk. Once you become attentive to unnecessary tension, you can relax out of it.

A long spine goes from the top of your head to the bottom of your tailbone, and includes the pelvis. Try imagining that your spine is a garden hose -- long and flexible.

Index: Weeding Out Back Pain - How to Weed on Hands and Knees Without Back Pain

  1. Keep a Long Spine While You Weed
  2. Push Your Body Forward to Reach for the Weeds
  3. Pull Your Body Back to Get the Weeds Out
  4. Limit Your Action to Your Trunk
  5. Steer With Your Pelvis
  6. Explore Others Ways to Weed

1 of 6

About.com is accredited by the Health On the Net Foundation, which promotes reliable and trusted online health information.
  1. Home
  2. Health
  3. Back & Neck Pain
  4. Pain Management
  5. Coping
  6. Activities of Daily Living
  7. Gardening and Back Pain
  8. Weeding and Back Pain - How to Weed on Hands and Knees Without Back Pain

©2008 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.