10 Tips for Safe Gardening This Spring

With warmer weather approaching, many of us will be spending more time outdoors gardening.

Follow these 10 safety tips to enjoy gardening and prevent injuries this year.

  1. Warm up before gardening. Walk around your garden for a few minutes and stretch.
  2. Wear gloves when working outside to protect your hands against cuts, soil, insect bites, and skin irritants.
  3. Avoid long gardening sessions or uncomfortable positions.
  4. Check posture often. Kneeling (with knee pads) instead of bending puts less strain on your back.
  5. Rotate your tasks to avoid repetitive movements, for example, after 15 minutes of raking, swap to pruning for a while.
  6. Use tools, not your hands. Sharp objects and debris buried in the soil may cut you.
  7. Use the RIGHT tool for the job. Blisters, calluses, and muscle pain can occur if the finger grips on the handle are too small or too large for your hand.
  8. Keep your hand and wrist in a straight line when using hand tools. Bending the wrist weakens your grip, which can lead to fatigue and soft tissue injury.
  9. Bend at the knees and don’t strain when lifting heavy objects. If the object is too heavy for you, seek help.
  10. Rest frequently, drink plenty of water, and always wear sunscreen.

The specialists at Sheltering Arms treat more than 50 neurologic and orthopedic conditions. If you need us, we are right around the corner at one of our seven convenient locations in central Virginia.

References

https://www.lawnstarter.com/blog/gardening-2/gardening-tips-safety/

https://www.assh.org/handcare/safety/gardening

https://handtoshoulderwisconsin.com/2018/05/9-safety-tips-for-healthy-gardening-practices/

https://www.theherbcottage.com/top-14-gardening-safety-tips-for-everyone/

Share This Post:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
RehaBlog

More Posts

Identifying & Treating Rotator Cuff Injuries

An injury to the rotator cuff, or the group of four muscles that help to stabilize your shoulder and allow you to move your arm different directions such as overhead and behind your back, is a common cause of pain among adults. In fact, an estimated 30 percent of adults over age 60 have a rotator cuff tear. Rotator injuries can occur from a traumatic event like a fall; however, it is also common for rotator cuff injuries to develop over time from repetitive use.

How Physical Therapy Can Help Scoliosis

Imagine seeing a tree defiantly growing sideways in your yard, prompting thoughts of how to redirect its growth. In a parallel scenario, teenagers with scoliosis exhibit a noticeable trunk shift in their posture. However, the journey to rectifying their upright stance delves into a realm of complexity and intricacy. Proprioception, the body’s innate sense of movement and position, is the key to unlocking proper posture. Through targeted exercises and activities that enhance balance, coordination, and body awareness, we can reshape the way the brain perceives postural alignment.

Tips to Reduce Stress During the Holidays

The holiday season is meant to be joyful, but it often brings its own set of challenges, from financial stress and crowded social events to managing your health and fitness goals. The good news is that there are steps you can take to reduce stress and enjoy the season with more calmness and clarity.

Why Do I Have to Retrain my Brain to Rehab my Back?

While low back pain is extremely common, it can be difficult to treat, especially if it’s lasted for a long time. In these cases, research recommends that physical therapy interventions should include aerobic exercise, manual therapy as appropriate, and a specific type of patient education called pain neuroscience education, or PNE.

What is Knowledge Translation?

Most of us have been in a situation where we learn something new at a continuing education course, in a new program, or at an in-service that we want to put into practice in the workplace, but nothing ever happens. This happens a lot with evidence-based practice in healthcare. Clinicians want to help their patients achieve the best outcomes, so they learn about new research and techniques; however, there are many reasons why change is hard.

Start your Journey

Learn more about Sheltering Arms Institute

Contact a specialist at Sheltering Arms Institute to learn more about how you can gain more freedom in your everyday life.