Be careful about your back if you’re out raking leaves this fall.

It might be a good idea to do some light stretching ahead of time. Dr. Lawrence Kurz, a neck and spine doctor with Michigan Orthopedic Surgeons, also says good form will go a long way.

“The discs in your lower back are the weakest in twisting,” Kurz said. “So I recommend that people, when they’re raking leaves, that they keep the rake in front of them as much as possible, instead of going right and left and trying to rake leaves behind them. Two is when they have a lot of leaves or whatever that they’re picking up from their garden, they should keep things as close to their body as possible.”

Kurz says the further away the rake is from your lower back, there’s an increased force. So, try to keep it close.

If you do hurt yourself, try some heat and take it easy. If it still hurts after two days, you may want to talk to a doctor.