Posted: Thursday, August 1, 2013 2:00 pm
Southernminn
Posted on
August 1, 2013
If you’ve always loved the pleasures of tending your own garden – fragrant flowers or the taste of a really fresh tomato – you don’t have to give them up just because arthritis has come into the picture. In fact, gardening is a great activity for maintaining joint flexibility, bone density, range of motion and quality of life. Researchers at the University of Arkansas found that gardening ranks as high as weight training for strengthening bones. A few simple modifications can help you keep your garden growing with ease.
Getting Started
• As with any activity, be sure to consult your doctor or physical therapist for any precautions you should take.
• Plan to garden during the times of day when you feel best; for example, wait until afternoon if you have morning stiffness;
• Before you begin work in your garden each time, warm up your joints and muscles with a brief walk or some stretching first. This will get your body ready for the activity and will help prevent injuries.
Arranging Your Garden
With creativity and advance planning, you can create a garden that suits your needs. Assess your abilities and arrange your garden in a way that makes your tasks easier and conserves your energy. For example, make sure your garden has a nearby water source so you don’t have to carry watering cans or hoses far. Keep a storage area or tool shed close to your garden so you don’t waste energy hauling your tools back and forth.
Moving the Right Way
As you garden, be careful not to put undue stress on your joints. Use tools such as hoes or rakes that have long handles so you avoid bending or stooping. Wrap the handles with foam padding or electrical tape so they will be easier to grip. If you have to work close to the ground, place only one knee on the ground and keep your back straight, or use a stool.
Choosing the Right Products
The equipment you use and the plants you work with can make a big difference in how enjoyable your gardening time is. Keep the following tips in mind when you’re in the gardening supply store.
• Low Maintenance Plants
- Choose young plants so you can avoid dealing with tiny seeds.
- Plant shrubs or perennials that bloom every year so you don’t have to replant each season.
- Ask about plants that require little care, such as ones that don’t need regular pruning.
• Helpful Tools
- Wear a carpenter’s apron with several pockets for carrying frequently used tools.
- Consider purchasing a hose caddy to store your garden hose. You can wheel the caddy to your work area and unroll the hose as you need it.
- Use a hand truck or dolly to move heavy bags of soil, mulch or fertilizer. You can transport heavy items without having to lift them onto a cart or wagon.
- Use a child’s size old wagon to carry gardening tools, bulbs or plants around while you work. If you don’t have one in the attic, these wagons can be purchased at toy and hardware stores.
- Use seed tape. Seed tape, which can be laid in the ground or in long planters, may be easier than planting seeds by hand.
If you like flower gardening, but can’t sit on the ground or stoop to low flower beds, trying planting flowers in window-box containers or clay pots that sit on tables outside your house. This way you can avoid bending over all together and can enjoy your garden outside as well as from your favorite chair inside!
If you would like more information about “Gardening and Arthritis” call the Senior LinkAge Line at 1-800-333-2433.
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