Soothe Your Muscles After Yard Work
- Karen Thompson
- Apr 15
- 1 min read

Spring brings sunshine and the urge to get our hands dirty and renew our outdoor spaces. But all that yard work – digging, planting, and raking – can take a toll on our bodies.
Common Yard Work Aches and Pains:
Back pain from bending and lifting.
Sore shoulders and arms from raking and pruning.
Tension in the neck and hands.
Self-Care Strategies:
Stretch: Before and after yard work, stretch your muscles to prevent injury.
Hydrate: Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and prevent muscle cramps.
Rest: Take breaks and avoid overexertion.
Massage Therapy: A massage can alleviate muscle tension and promote recovery.
How Massage Therapy Can Help:
Massage therapy can target sore muscles, improve circulation, and reduce inflammation. Techniques like deep tissue massage and trigger point therapy can provide relief from yard work-related pain. Research support for this is seen the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research which found that massage therapy can reduce delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) after strenuous exercise.
Exercise your good judgment and treat your hard-working muscles to a massage this spring!