Believe it or not, gardening is the number one choice for outdoor leisure activity in North America. This activity can be difficult if a person has health conditions that limit movement or stamina. There are, however, ways to decrease the aches, pains and strains that often occur during gardening.

Protect Your Joints

Choose instruments with padded handles to protect joints in your hands and fingers from excess pressure. Tools like shears or clippers with a spring-action, self-opening fixture are helpful is you have a weak grasp.

Limit Lifting

Watch out for those heavy bags of soil, mulch or fertilizer! Instead of moving the whole bag, divide it into smaller, more manageable loads, and use a cart or wagon to move it. When lifting, use the muscles in your legs (and not your back) for the heaviest exertions. Ask for help, or hire it (if necessary), for heavier tasks.

Conserve Energy

Sit while working to conserve energy and decrease stress on your back, knees and hips. Use a kneeler seat or a combination kneeling platform/seat that will held you rise from a kneeling to a seated position. Take rest breaks and stop work for the day before you overexert yourself.

Mix It Up

Vary your tasks to avoid overstressing any one part of your body. Change your position frequently to keep from becoming stiff. Tightly gripping or pinching a tool for extended periods can cause swelling in the hands and arms, and hunching over or kneeling for prolonged periods can cause back strain and knee pain.

Chiropractic care is available to everyone. You do not need a referral from your medical doctor. Our profession has expertise in helping people engage in all outdoor activities in ways that avoid back injuries and unnecessary aches and pains.

Contact Port Credit Chiropractic Wellness Center at 905-271-1161, Monday through Saturday, for more information about how chiropractic care can help you or someone you know live and enjoy the outdoors better.