Pain in the Garden: 5 Ways to Avoid It
By Brandi Goodman
April is National Garden Month every year, and with the onset of spring, many people take to their gardens to bring new beauty into the world. The act of gardening can be extremely beneficial to one's health. Boosting mood, enhancing wellness, and reducing stress are just a few of its advantages. However, the activity can also bring about pain if people aren't careful. You can try a few methods to avoid pain in the garden so the activity brings only joy to your life.
Break Up the Work
Say you have a large goal of planting a full garden of flowers or produce. You shouldn't do this all in one day. Instead, break up the work into smaller tasks and spread it out over the course of several days or even weekends. You want to take your time and give your body the chance to recover between sessions so you aren't overworking a particular set of muscles.
Work With a Partner
If you need to meet your goal sooner rather than later, you still shouldn't double up on work. The alternative is to work with a partner. You'll be able to get double the work done in half the time while also having a chance to socialize. Ask your significant other, child, close friend, or even a neighbor if they can lend you a hand.
Use a Pad
Remaining bent on your knees on the hard ground can place significant strain on your body. Placing a pad beneath your knees is an easy way to combat this problem. A foam pad or even a folded blanket can do wonders for preventing pain.
Keep Drinking Water
Your joints remain more flexible when they are properly hydrated. For this reason, it's essential that you keep drinking water throughout the gardening process. Don't have a cup before you head outside and think that will be enough. You should keep a bottle with you and take frequent sip breaks so you stay hydrated. This is even more important on hot days.
Get Tools With Longer Handles
Short-handled tools will have you reaching. Doing so can put tension in your back and shoulders quickly. Getting tools with longer handles will prevent you from having to reach so much and help you to avoid pain.
Gardening provides a wonderful opportunity to get outdoors and celebrate the natural beauty all around. It provides stress relief, enhances your mood, and much more. Utilize these methods when working in the garden so you can prevent pain and keep the activity beneficial and enjoyable. If you still experience any pain while gardening, visit The Joint Chiropractic to get an assessment. You may have joint restrictions or subluxations that prevent your body from being as flexible as possible.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Milpitas, Calif.