Archive for May 2016

Gardening is a great outdoor activity that can be both meditative as well as physically active. Unfortunately, many avoid gardening since it can aggravate the back, hips and knees. Gardening does not have to be an impossible task, simply follow these tips listed, and gardening can be an enjoyable hobby once again.

GETTING STARTED

Preparation is an important part to keeping your body happy and healthy. Make sure to do the following before doing any gardening.

• Have the Proper Tools Ready:
   Do your body a favor and get tools with longer, adjustable handles. This will allow your body to maintain a more neutral position.
   For heavy lifting, use a wheelbarrow so your muscles are able to do less work.
   For kneeling, get knee pads to lessen the impact on the knee joint.

PLAN YOUR GARDEN

Create a more manageable garden: think high, think small. Consider a standing garden that is raised high enough so you don’t have to bend at all. Also, having a smaller garden means less weeding and maintenance which can save the wear and tear of the joints.