Leaf raking looks like a chore, but your lower back treats it like a workout.
About 7,700 people landed in the emergency room in 2025 with leaf raking injuries, according to an analysis of U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) injury data.
Why? Raking counts as moderate-intensity exercise, closer to doubles tennis than sweeping the porch, and the twisting, bending, and lifting add up, especially if you have been sitting at a desk since spring.
According to a chiropractor, most raking injuries are avoidable with warm-up, steady pacing, and a few changes to how you rake.
Why Raking Leaves Is Harder on Your Body Than It Looks
Raking is a repetitive-motion activity, and repetitive motion with poor technique and no warm-up or recovery time is what causes overuse injuries. Every pull of the rake stresses the same spots in your lower back, shoulders, neck, and forearms and can cause strains and sprains.
For some people, a few hours of leaf raking is the most strenuous activity they do all week. For an unprepared body, that sudden exertion can strain the heart. One in five leaf raking injuries treated in the ER was described as a cardiac or systemic event, such as chest pain or fainting.
The Most Common Leaf-Raking Injuries
Raking commonly causes:
- Lower back strain and sprain from bending, twisting, or lifting heavy, wet leaf piles.
- Shoulder and neck strain from repeating the same motion without switching arms.
- Arm and forearm pain from repeated gripping and pulling.
- Knee and hip discomfort from kneeling or squatting while bagging leaves.
Several people admitted to the hospital after raking had a cardiac or systemic event. An 80-year-old man felt lightheaded while raking, lowered himself to the ground, and passed out.
Falls are another serious risk. One 92-year-old woman fell while raking leaves and broke a bone in the left side of her face along with her pelvis.
How to Rake Without Hurting Yourself
Start by treating raking as a workout:
- Put on supportive shoes with real tread.
- Dress in light layers you can shed as you warm up.
- Warm up with a 5-minute walk, then stretch your neck, shoulders, hips, and hamstrings.
The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons recommends stretching slowly and gently, holding a stretch for 10 to 30 seconds. No bouncing, and it should not hurt.
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, most raking injuries come from bad form. Here is how to avoid them:
- Bend at the knees, not the waist, whenever you pick up a pile or a bag.
- Keep the motion in your arms and shoulders, not your torso. Drive the pull toward you with a step back, not a wrist yank.
- Switch your lead hand every few minutes.
- Take a break every 20 to 30 minutes, even if you feel fine, and drink water.
Bagging adds bending, twisting, and lifting to a job that is already repetitive, which is why this is where a lot of backs give out:
- Use a tarp to drag leaves to the curb instead of repeatedly bending to scoop and carry them.
- Do not overfill leaf bags, especially wet ones.
- Never sling a full bag over one shoulder. Carry it low and centered or drag it.
Leaf Raking Injuries Are More Common Than You Think. Here's How to Avoid Them This Fall
