Gardening is great exercise for your mind and body! Springtime is a great time to do it. Here are some tips to prevent injuries and have a great time.
When RAKING OR HOEING – keep your tools close to your body and your back straight to reduce strain. Use your arms and avoid twisting your trunk. Use long-handled tools suited to your height.
•If you tend to bend over or reach too far while raking, consider using an ergonomic rake (available at garden centers). It will make the job easier and reduce strain to your back.
When WEEDING OR PLANTING– do not bend from the waist. Squat or kneel on a kneeling pad. If you have difficulty getting up, use a kneeling pad / bench with a support handle for assistance.
•Give your back, legs and knees a break from stooping and kneeling by using tools with long handles to help withthe weeding.
•Squat or sit on the ground to trowel, rather than bending over.
When DIGGING OR SHOVELING– insert the head of the shovel vertically into the ground and step on the blade. Lift small amounts at a time. Keep your back straight and bend at the knees. Avoid twisting. Use a wheelbarrow to move big or heavy loads.
•Choose a shovel with a weight and handle length that is appropriate for your size and for the job you are doing.
•Give your back a break by using a smaller shovel, reducing the temptation to lift large amounts of soil.
•Spread heavy lifting and digging tasks over a week rather than a weekend, and spread major projects throughout the seasons. Take time to recover between them.
When LIFTING OR CARRYING – know your limits and lift properly: bend your knees, not your back. Keep the load close to your body. Don’t lift items that are too heavy for you to handle – get help! Use a wagon or wheelbarrow to transport supplies and / or to move or carry heavy items.
•A four-wheeled cart is sturdier and easier to use than a wheelbarrow.
•Lift with your knees slightly bent and your back straight. Avoid twisting or reaching.
When PRUNING or TRIMMING– get as close to your work as possible. Don’t stretch beyond your reach or past your stable footing. Rehearse the movement as a stretch first to test your ability and positioning.
•Match the size of the gardening tool handle to the size of your hand. Choose tools that you can hold so that your hand remains positioned in line with your forearm.
•Hold your tools in a loose comfortable grip. Holding too tightly may cause injury.
•Be creative! Adapt or create your tools for ease and comfort:
•Pad the handles of your gardening tools.
•Use knee pads or a foam pad for kneeling.
•Wrap a slippery handle with tape to improve your grip (hockey stick tape will do).
Selecting the right tool, for the right task, for the right gardener, is critical to creating a beautiful garden safely.
Here are a few additional tips for fitting the tool to the gardener:
•Tools with larger, padded handles are more comfortable for gardeners with painful or arthritic hands. Enlarge tool handles with grip-tape or foam tubing purchased at a hardware store.
•Tools with tubular steel rather than wood are more lightweight and may be easier to use.
•Use a potting bench or a counter top where possible to prevent unnecessary bending.
•Wear a gardening apron with several pockets for carrying tools frequently used,or keep them close at hand, to avoid reaching or twisting for the tool you need.
•Wear gardening gloves to protect your hands and joints.
•Keep tools (such as your pruners) sharp to make cutting easier.
This information sheet is part of the Canadian Physiotherapy Assciation’s
S.M.A.R.T. approach to your mobility. The information provided
is intended for general use and is not meant
to substitute for the professional, personal
assessment your physiotherapist offers.