When your spine is misaligned you may not be able to tell because nerves adapt.  Chiropractors can tell because that is what they have studied to be able to do.

If the eggs you are about to buy at the grocery store are broken you can get others.  If your spine is misaligned (subluxation) the chiropractor can usually get you back in shape before things go awry.

Call me!

1. Stretch – Just because you are not trying out for the Olympics does not mean you have less of importance riding on your
   

   Ouch!

   gardening.  Your whole gardening season can be messed up and your garden plans put off another year if you hurt your back.  Make sure your stretches include the hamstrings and calves (runner’s stretches), low back (knee to chest), upper arms and shoulders.  And it wouldn’t hurt to throw in a few crunches. (OK, maybe that was more of a self-reminder).

2. Avoid lifting -  if an item is too heavy, use a two-wheeled wheel barrow or put the item on a tarp and drag it to where you need it.  Google search the Muletto or watch this video for more info.
3. If you must lift, do so holding the object close to your body and use your legs for the heavy work.  The ideal body position for lifting is with the feet shoulder width apart and  both hands extended equally in distance from the body.  Get as close to this as possible for oddly shaped or awkward items.  Remember, the muscles must exert more energy and will tire out faster when the weight being lifted is farther from the body.  For instance, a one pound weight can be magnified by 3 times for every 1 inch it is forward of the body’s center of gravity.
4. Ergonomic gardening tools – Buyer beware! Just because a garden tool is labeled “ergonomic” does not mean that it is.  According to Sandy Smith, the editor in chief of EHStoday, one must take into account the shape and diameter of the tool’s handle, it’s size and weight, and the action involved in using it.  Check out these garden tools.  The Radius hand tools, in particular, are good examples of tools for which form fits function.  The curve of the handle fits better into the palm of the hand.  Telescoping and pistol-grip tools usually require less energy to do the work for which they are designed.  If you kneel for your work, consider industrial strength knee pads that allow your patella to float rather than compressing it.  Not your average garden variety knee pads.
5. Pinching and pulling activities are the very ones which cause repetitive motion injuries.  Keep your elbows close to the body and at heart level as much as possible.  Long handled tools will help to alleviate problems here.
6. Reaching – avoid extended reaches for longer than 10 to 15 seconds. Take short breaks and shake the arms and hands out.
7. Balance – Unlike four-legged animals, human heads are designed to settle into the shallow cups of the atlas bone (the top vertebra, aka – C1).  It can do this best when we are standing upright.  For this reason, it can cause a lot of problems when we work for an extended period of time with our heads and necks in an extended position such as in riding a bike or weeding the garden by hand.  Again, like reaching, the exertion placed on the muscles of the neck and upper back, even into the low back, due to holding up the weight of the head (averaging 14 pounds) is magnified by approximately three times for every inch it extends  forward of its normal center of gravity.  Take frequent breaks to avoid fatigue.
8. Stability – It is important to think of your contact with your supporting structure.  Your feet contact the ground when you are standing and usually when you are sitting.  The wider your base of support, the better your balance.  Ergonomics is all about balance.  The better your balance, the easier your muscles have it.  If sitting while doing the garden chores, keep both feet spaced widely apart.  This stance significantly broadens your base of support.  Using a 5 gallon bucket or large pot turned upside down, or a stool will help save your back and your knees as well as the rest of your spine.
9. Digging – Try not to lift, twist or turn your body when digging or turning the soil.  Move your whole lower body instead when lifting the shovel.
10. Straighten up and fly right – When lifting keep your back straight and avoid rounding it forward. If you must put one foot forward when lifting lunge forward keeping the back and back leg in a straight line and the lunging knee over the heel.

Don’t forget your stretches  exercises.  Most gardening related injuries occur to the knees and low back. Keep them in shape year round.

Have a great and healthy gardening season!

I wanted to avoid surgery as long as possible. Dr. Ellwanger explained and demonstrated how the pain in my low back could be due to misalignments in my neck. I never would have thought that there could be that much connection between my neck and my low back pain, but I figured ‘what do I have to lose?’ After a few adjustments my low back pain was much improved. I am now holding my adjustments for months at a time. I am thrilled to be out of pain! My family is happier too! I am truly amazed that my doctors didn’t know about this type of chiropractic, but I believe that I have found a miracle. Thank you Dr. Ellwanger!

Angie has been going to George for over 2 months now and the physical improvement is quite amazing. I recommend George for anyone not feeling quite 100% or for those not getting any answers from their doctors.

I was skeptical going to Dr. Ellwanger because I thought it would be the same thing. As a matter of fact the first time he adjusted me using the Atlas Orthogonal method I asked “is that it?!” The results were phenomenal so I told everyone about it. When I told my Mother-in-law she was skeptical as well because of being injured through traditional chiropractors and was experiencing constant numbness down her leg for over a year and a half. When she went to see Dr. Ellwanger she was amazed to say the least. After only 2 trips to him she noticed tremendous results and now realizes that she doesn’t have to live in pain and numbness for the rest of her life.

I continue to recommend Dr. Ellwanger to everyone that I can.