Raking shouldn’t mean aching

September 23rd, 2008 at 12:54pm Mike DeDoncker

It’s the first full day of fall, a time of year I like a lot more now that I no longer live on a three-quarter acre lot crowded with mature oaks and elms.

The motion of raking leaves isn’t very different from the push-pulls you would perform if you were doing a chest and lats workout in the gym. In addition, a pile of leaves, especially wet ones, can be surprisingly heavy so some warm-up stretches might be in order to keep falling leaves from dropping you on the doctor’s doorstep.

Start by slowly rotating your shoulders in a windmilling fashion, kind of like an old-time pitcher winding up or one of those flying duck yard ornaments. Rotate in both directions. Follow this up by reaching across your chest — right hand as far across to the left as you can, left hand as far as possible to the right.

Stretch your hamstrings and lower back by placing one foot against a low step, keeping the knee straight but not locked out and reaching forward to touch the toe, if possible. Switch feet and repeat.

If you’re going to be lifting heavy loads, you should squat down — not bend over at the waist — bring the load as close to you as necessary to get a good grip on it and then stand up with the load.

Pay attention to keeping yourself safe and a weekend on the lawn shouldn’t leave you aching when you return to the desk job on Monday morning.

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