There is good and bad to raking leaves. First, the good: 

 

Good: 1. fresh air. Nuff said. 2. Blisters. What, you don’t like blisters??? I say wrong. Blisters are a sign of hard work and a return to your roots. The sting might be there for a week or so – and sure – maybe it will hurt a little bit when you try to point the remote control at the television set later that night – but at least it will serve as a reminder that you did something active that day… and darn it, it felt good. 3. Vitamin D. This is good stuff. Recently there have been many studies that are proving that what seems like the majority of Americans have a Vitamin D deficiency. A lack of vitamin D has been linked to heart disease, chronic inflammation, arthritis, psoriasis, depression, influenza, asthma, allergies, autoimmune disorders, diabetes, autism and cancer. So come on, people – get outside. It’s not that hard. 3. Exercise - with raking, you will get a full body exercise, core, shoulders, back, legs. You activate all of your postural muscles as you stabilize yourself to rake.

 

 

Now let’s take a look at the bad:

 

Bad: Hurting your back while raking. Because of the bending and twisting motion that is involved with raking – raking puts our underused, out of shape bodies to the test. In a way, it is a warm-up for the rake’s bruiser of a cousin, the snow shovel… and let’s be honest; winter is just around the corner.

            Next week I will talk to you about core strength and abdominal bracing and ways you can incorporate abdominal muscle activation into your day.. .you should read it, so stay tuned.

 

 

This week’s assignment: GET OUTSIDE! Just go outside, suck up that vitamin D and rake some leaves. You’ll feel better that you did.

 

 

talk to you soon,

 

 

Dr. G