Summer is here and many people will be heading out to their gardens and lawns for enjoyment and exercise. For those who love to garden but suffer from back pain at the end of a day outside, resting and relaxing in a chair equipped with a proper back support is always a good idea when the chores are done. Another helpful hint is to try and garden in such a way as to prevent back strains and pulled muscles. Here are some tips to make your gardening enjoyable while keeping your back healthy.
1.After a long winter your body may not be used to the stretches and bends that pulling weeds and planting plants requires, so it’s a good idea to warm up your muscles a bit before heading into the garden. Do some stretches and take a brief walk to get the blood flowing and your muscles limbered up.
2.Try to kneel when pulling weeds instead of bending from the waist. There are many products on the market today to make kneeling more comfortable, such as knee pads, kneeling mats and rolling carts that allow you to move about the garden without having to bend at all.
3.If you are digging out a garden or transferring soil into a garden from a different location, be sure to use a cart or wheelbarrow to get the soil as close to the garden as possible. This will eliminate the lifting of heavy shovels of dirt which can put a strain on the back.
4.Try to change activity frequently to avoid the stiffness that can result from remaining in one position too long.
5.Be sure to wear comfortable shoes that protect and support your feet.
6.Carrying heavy watering cans can strain the back so whenever possible do your watering with a garden hose. There are many adjustable nozzles and attachments that make watering with a hose completely safe and gentle even for new plantings.
7.If potting and tending to greenhouse plants is on your list of chores, be sure that all workbenches are built to a comfortable height that eliminates the need for bending or reaching. Workbenches should be about two to four inches below the height of your elbow. If you prefer to sit to work, be sure your stool is high enough that you don’t need to reach too far.
8.If you know that back pain comes with your gardening efforts, it might be wise to rethink your garden design. Replace some lower gardens with raised beds that require less bending, and choose plants that fill in well so weeding is kept to a minimum. Adding mulch to a garden bed can also reduce the need for weeding which not only saves time in the garden; it also helps reduce the strain on your back.
9.When choosing tools for your gardening, always try them out for proper weight and height to suit your needs. Try to choose the most ergonomic handles and designs.
10.Try to use a lawn mower with an easy pull start to avoid the jerky motion that can cause strains and spasms.
If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention our Back Pain blog as the original source).
