Falling leaves are a sure sign of autumn in most of the country, which means that raking is as inevitable as the change of seasons. Every year, without fail, thousands of people suffer aches and pains associated with raking leaves.

It may be bothersome, but raking leaves doesn't have to literally be a pain. Here are 7 tips for staying healthy while raking leaves this fall.

Warm up

Raking leaves is like any other exercise. To stay healthy, you can't just jump to it, you need to start slowly. Take a short walk around your yard, then do some simple stretches to get your muscles loosened and warmed. Place the rake across your shoulders and behind your neck, with your outstretched hands resting over the handle. Then twist from side-to-side at the waste and hips. Get those back, shoulder and side muscles ready to go.

Protect your hands

Wear a good pair of work gloves. This will help prevent blisters that form when the rake handle rubs repeatedly against your skin. If you do get a blister, apply an antiseptic and a bandage and let it heal on its own.

Use the right rake

Old-fashioned metal, bamboo or plastic rakes, while effective, can also add to your discomfort and may not be the best choice if you're trying to stay healthy. There are several ergonomic models available that are designed to be easier on your body. They have contoured handles to help your back and soft rubber grips to make things easier on your hands.

Move your legs

The proper stance can make all the difference when raking leaves the healthy way. Keep your knees loose, place one foot in front of the other, and pull the leaves toward you in straight sweeps. Use short raking motions, and don't overreach for leaves. Just keep taking short steps, rather than stretching and twisting your body.

Mix things up

Rather than raking leaves from the entire yard and then bagging them, vary your routine. Try a few minutes of raking followed by a few minutes of moving piles of leaves into bags. Just like varying your workout at the gym, this kind of backyard cross-training will provide a more balanced workout and help keep you healthy this fall.

Don't overdo it

Those leaves aren't going anywhere, so you don't have to get them all cleaned up at once. Stay healthy by resting when you need to and drinking plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated.

Cool down

When you've finished raking leaves, do a couple more simple stretches. Walk around a little and give your muscles a chance to relax and cool off with you. It's a beautiful autumn day. What's your hurry? After all, you want to be healthy enough to enjoy the fall leaves again next year, don't you?

Learn more about this author, Rick Blaine.
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