Arthritis Pain Relief In The Garden
For arthritis pain relief when doing gardening, you can adapt and change certain implements and tools you use to make gardening fun again. Since a lot of gardening involves bending and kneeling, not to mention carrying heavy tools, there are some things you can do to help make it easier.
Try planting in pots instead of a garden plot. Place lightweight containers on top of empty inverted pots, a bench, deck tables or railing tops so that you don’t' have to bend down as much. If you have to kneel down, use kneepads for extra cushioning.
To reduce having to bend, use long handled tools such as rakes or hoes. You can make tools easier to grip by adding rubber foam to the handles.
When planting flowers and plants, consider choosing those that are perennials that do not require planting new flowers every year. There are varieties of flowers and plants that are low maintenance and don't require extra work such as removing dead blooms using the scissors or pinching them off.
Fill your flower beds and borders with potting soil or other kinds of loose soil. Good soil reduces the need for weeding and makes it easier to weed and get vegetables from the ground.
If you can, make an elevated flowerbed or garden so that you can garden without having to bend to exert excessive strain on your back. Use a large apron with many pockets to help hold your gardening tools.
If you have to do any lifting in the garden, make sure you bend your knees and not your back. Hold the object close to your body and use your arms and to lift by standing up with your back straight. Better still, get someone else to do your lifting for you.
It's important not to over exert or strain when gardening. By observing the dos and don'ts, you can enjoy gardening and still get arthritis pain relief.
