Dr. Stefano Sinicropi, M.D.

Summer is officially here this week, and many of us have already been outside soaking up this incredible weather. We love that the summer weather allows us to stay active and have more daylight long into the evening, but summer is also a popular time for back injuries. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at some of the ways that the summer season can increase your risk of back pain so that you can avoid some of these common pitfalls.

Summer Back Pain Triggers

Don’t get us wrong, we want you to be outside and active this summer, but these new activities can also cause issues for your back if you’re not careful. Here are some things to be mindful of this summer.

1. Gardening – If you love to grow your own fruits and vegetables in a garden, you are not alone. Gardening is a popular hobby here in the Twin Cities, but it can also be hard on your spine, especially if you’re regularly outside maintaining your garden and pulling weeds. Instead of bending over at the spine, invest in a gardening foam pad so that you can work from your knees and put less stress on your spine.
2. Berry Picking – We’ll stick with the produce theme and mention that berry picking is a fun summer activity that can be quite stressful on your spine. We’re in the midst of strawberry season, and this fruit is much lower to the ground than apples, meaning you may have to bend over for a while in order to pick a flat. Again, work on your knees and take breaks if your back is starting to hurt so that your berry picking excursion doesn’t lead to a new back injury.
3. Sandal Season – Summer is also a popular time to wear sandals, but just make sure that you only don the footwear for the right occasion. If you’re going to be putting a lot of mileage on your feet, consider a more comfortable and supportive option. If your feet are handling more stress because your footwear is lacking support, this can create a chain effect of problems for your knees, hips and back. If your back is starting to hurt more during the summer, take a closer look to see if unsupportive footwear may be to blame.
4. Road Trips – If you are planning a summer road trip, be mindful of how all this time in the car can be hard on your back. Have your car seat positioned properly so that you aren’t putting excessive strain on your lumbar or cervical spine, and check out a few of these other tips for preventing back pain on a long road trip.
5. Dehydration – Finally, working or playing out in the summer heat can also increase your risk of becoming dehydrated. When you’re not adequately hydrated, your spinal muscles won’t work as fluidly, and that can put you at a greater risk for muscle strains, cramps and spasms. Be sure to drink plenty of water this summer, even if you’re not outwardly sweating, because you can become dehydrated pretty quickly when it’s warm out.

If you are aware of some of the ways that the summer season can be hard on your back, and you take some steps to account for these potential threats, we’re confident that you’ll be able to keep your spine healthy and have an enjoyable summer. If a new pain develops or an existing issue worsens, be sure to reach out to Dr. Sinicropi and the team at The Midwest Spine & Brain Institute today at (651) 430-3800.

Comments are closed.