Health Truth Revealed

Main Menu

  • Healthy Life
  • Vitamin Liberty
  • Toxic Spill
  • Health Tips
  • Health savings

Health Truth Revealed

Header Banner

Health Truth Revealed

  • Healthy Life
  • Vitamin Liberty
  • Toxic Spill
  • Health Tips
  • Health savings
Health Tips
Home›Health Tips›Enjoy pain-free gardening – Times News Online

Enjoy pain-free gardening – Times News Online

By Phyllis D. Lehmann
April 27, 2022
0
0

Posted on April 27, 2022 at 10:41 a.m.

Even though it is not a high impact activity, gardening can still lead to injury. Tasks like weeding, mulching, raking and pushing a wheelbarrow can put stress and strain on your joints and muscles.

However, the good news is that you can protect yourself.

Physiatrists Chirag Kalola, MD, with Lehigh Valley Physician Group Physiatry–Hausman Road, and Steven Mazza, MD, with LVPG Physiatry–Independence Road, have some tips for avoiding gardening injuries.

First gardening tip: Warm up and cool down

As with any activity, it’s important to warm up your muscles before you start working in your garden.

“Even a brisk walk of five to 10 minutes can help relax your muscles,” says Kalola. “Spinal stretches are also beneficial because gardening involves a lot of bending.”

It’s also important to cool off after you’ve finished gardening. Kalola suggests a slight backward bend to relieve the strain of forward bending associated with a short walk.

Second gardening tip: change position

According to Mazza, one of the best ways to avoid muscle strain is to change positions frequently.

“It’s common to kneel or lean forward in awkward positions while you garden,” Mazza explains. “Make sure you get up or change positions every five minutes or so. If you start to feel pain, take a break and stretch or move on to something else that requires a different position.

Gardening Tip Three: Use Cushions for Kneeling

Because gardening requires a lot of kneeling, you might want to invest in a good kneeling pad. This will help protect your knees and lower back by providing adequate support and reducing stress on the joints.

Fourth Gardening Tip: Use the Right Body Mechanics

To protect your back when pulling weeds, you should bend your knees, keep your abs tight, and make sure your spine is straight when lifting or pulling.

Avoid twisting and make sure you take your foot and place it in the same direction as your eyes. This will help you avoid twisting the knee.

Fifth gardening tip: use a wheelbarrow

Don’t put excessive pressure on your back. If you are going to be moving large loads of soil or mulch, use a wheelbarrow. Make sure to keep your back straight and lift with your legs.

Gardening Tip Six: Stay Hydrated

It is very important to stay hydrated while gardening. Be sure to take a bottle of water with you and drink it frequently.

If you feel pain while gardening, don’t be afraid to stop what you’re doing and take a break.

If the pain persists, you should call your doctor for an appointment.

Depending on your condition and symptoms, he or she may recommend that you see a specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation (physiatry) for further evaluation and treatment.

To learn more about the physiatry services offered by the Lehigh Valley Health Network, visit LVHN.org/physiatry.

Gardening can be fun, but it’s also important to make sure you don’t overexert yourself. METROGRAPHY

Kalola

Mazza

Related posts:

  1. Sameera Reddy shares tips on how to tackle post-COVID weakness
  2. Should you drink coffee on a hangover?
  3. Liver: Take care of this vital organ, your body’s frontline fighter in the battle against Covid-19
  4. Tips and tricks to avoid ticks and Lyme disease all summer long

Recent Posts

  • Erectile dysfunction can indicate two deadly diseases – check the signs
  • Smelly algae invades Hamilton’s West Harbor…again
  • Toddler dies in hot car after daycare worker left him in backseat all day: Reports – Crime Online
  • How to reduce your alcohol consumption – 7 tips for drinking more sensibly
  • Dr. Zorba Paster: Reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease with these 5 tips for a healthy lifestyle | Madison.com Health, Sports Health & Fitness

Archives

  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • December 2020
  • August 2020
  • May 2019
  • February 2019
  • April 2018
  • November 2016

Categories

  • Health savings
  • Health Tips
  • Healthy Life
  • Toxic Spill
  • Vitamin Liberty
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy