“Bucket back” increasing in SA due to ongoing water restrictions
The Chiropractors’ Association of Australia (CAA) has linked a rise in “bucket back” injuries to the harshening of water restrictions in South Australia.
“An increasing number of chiropractors across South Australia are seeing a lot of people with bucket back,” said Dr Sim, CAA spokesman. “Although the government has extended the temporary ban on outdoor watering, buckets are still permitted for gardening meaning that more and more people are bending over putting their backs at risk.”
The South Australian government is issuing permits on request to allow the use of hand held hoses during certain hours for people unable to carry buckets or watering cans due to age or disability.
Dr Sim believes education is needed to address the problem of bucket back on a state level. A common gardening bucket holds 10 litres, which when filled equates to 10 kilograms – a load still too heavy for many people to manage.
“Carrying water buckets is an issue not only because of the weight carried, but also because water is an unstable weight, putting uneven stress on one side of the body,” said Dr Sim.
“Gardening already can result in spinal problems including back strain, neck strain and shoulder pain, and the carrying of heavy buckets further impacts these health risks.”
However, according to Dr Sim, the potential risk of bucket back can be greatly reduced by following some simple tips when out in the garden:
– Bend your knees when lifting buckets. Never bend your back.
– Only carry what is absolutely necessary – do not overfill your bucket.
– Use two smaller buckets (one in each hand) to disperse weight evenly.
