For many of us, gardening is an excellent way to spend time outdoors and can be therapeutic, but is it also a form of exercise and like any other type of exercise, poor form can lead to soreness and even pain over time. Muscles, tendons and nerves can all be affected by our activities in the garden and being proactive to avoid injury is how we can ensure that we can participate in the activities we love for years to come.

We are excited to be partnering with FYZICAL Therapy and Balance Centers of Hendersonville to offer a FREE class on injury prevention in the garden and how you can implement stretches and mindful movements to stay healthy and active! This class will be on Thursday, March 13 at our office, 100 Jackson Park Rd., Hendersonville, NC 28792. 

We will cover an overview of the most common gardening-related injuries, discuss many topics on health and wellness, provide ways to help reduce your risk of injury, followed by a Q&A and an optional balance screening with a physical therapist. There is limited availability for the balance screenings so make sure to register!

Register for this class using this Google Form

Check out these helpful tips below for more info on injury prevention in the garden:

 

Adapt the Garden:

Create designs that promote healthy posture, movement, and maintenance. Examples include using raised beds and vertical gardens to avoid hunching over and kneeling; and appropriate placement of gardening elements, such as stepping stones and lightweight pottery that can be worked around without twisting, over-reaching, or pulling.

Adapt the Tools:

Use tools that are appropriate for the job and built for your needs and abilities. Examples include tools with ergonomic handles and attachments for gripping comfortably and keeping the wrist straight, and rakes and shovels with height-appropriate handles that help you maintain a straight back and avoid hunching over.

Adapt Yourself:

Assess your abilities, prepare properly, and utilize safe movements.

• Wear comfortable, breathable clothing and closed-toed shoes with ankle support. Even if it’s cloudy outside, put on sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses if needed.
• Keep your tools and other essentials (trash bags, water bottle, cell phone, snacks, etc.) with you in a bucket or cart that travels with you while you work around the garden.
• Carry water with you and drink often. It’s best to drink water before gardening so you don’t start off dehydrated. Drink every 15-20 minutes while gardening, and drink water afterwards to help replace what you may have lost through sweat.
• Schedule tasks for cooler times of the day and break them into shorter activities. Try to avoid gardening for more than 1.5 hours at a time and incorporate the outlined suggestions.
• Change tasks every 20 minutes to something that utilizes alternate muscles and intensities (e.g., change to an activity that requires standing after kneeling). Or take a break altogether, stretch the muscles you used, and hydrate.
• Engage your leg muscles rather than your arms and back when lifting, carrying, and putting down items, changing directions, and moving back and forth (e.g., raking and shoveling).
• When working low to the ground, kneel rather than crouch or squat. Use a foam mat or knee pads to cushion your knees. Kneel on one knee while keeping the other foot on the ground for support. This helps avoid hunching while keeping your back straight. Alternate every couple of minutes.
• Stretch before, during, and after gardening. Gardening is considered a physical activity, so treat it the same way as any form of exercise. Warm up your muscles first before stretching. As you take breaks, stretch the used muscles. At the end, do whole-body stretches.

These are just a few ways to help minimize pain and prevent RSIs and other injuries from occurring in the garden. As with any activity, practice makes perfect! The more you practice these suggestions, the more they become a normal part of your routine.

Source: Prevent Injury in the Garden with Proper Posture, Tool Use, and Stretches

By: Gabriela Murza, Professional Practice Extension Assistant Professor, Health and Wellness/HEART Initiative