10/21/2026
For many people, the first crisp weekend of autumn means a full day in the garden, followed by a stiff neck and heavy shoulders on Monday.
Raking leaves, cutting back perennials and hauling pots indoors all lean on the same group of muscles between the neck and shoulder blade, and they tire quickly. A few habits help: alternating tasks every twenty minutes, switching hands on the rake, and keeping tools close to the body rather than reaching.
The upper back also needs to rotate well so the neck and shoulders are not doing all the work. That is something a movement assessment can check. Free Discovery Visit https://balancewithinpt.com/free-discovery-consult/