Part 2: Are you ready to weedeat?

Even if you're doing core exercises, you may not be ready for specific activities like weedeating!  Weedeating is a diagonal activity and you could be week in the specific directional diagonal that you need.

Even if you're doing core exercises, you may not be ready for specific activities like weedeating!  Weedeating is a diagonal activity and you could be week in the specific directional diagonal that you need.  For instance, if you hold the weedeater in your right hand, and steer it with your left, it's likely that your L foot is forward as you work.  To check if you are strong in this diagonal lay on your back and bring your L knee up and across toward your right shoulder.  Resist you R arm pushing the L knee down.  Compare this to the opposite diagonal: R knee to L shoulder.  Is one stronger, easier to hold.  Do you feel any give or arching in your back?  Does trying to hold the position create any pain or discomfort in your back?  If so, you may need to train this diagonal of core strength in order to be successful with weed eating without hurting your back!  
This happened to a young healthy and fit patient of mine.  Her back would go out after long bouts of heavy yard work.  We checked her diagonals and found that sure enough, the diagonal that she tended to work in was weak with poor ability to stabilize her back.  This became her home exercise program and significantly reduced the episodes of back pain she was experiencing.

In addition to being as strong as you can be for the work you have to do, sometimes is helps to make the work easier!  I've included a link to a lightweight, single cord, battery operated weedeater, that's good for simple yard jobs with less stress and strain on your arms and back.  Enjoy!  Let me know if have one of these and how you like it!