Working in the garden is usually considered an exercise for most people. It is just something to do over the weekend to take their minds of other things, while at the same time involving the muscles to do some actual work, instead of lying about for two days. Some people consider this a better exercise than jogging or even doing push-ups, because it involves many more muscles that these workouts.
However, some other people tend to have problems with gardening. For example, some of them will wake up on Monday morning with sore back or achy joints, while others will experience cramps due to their muscles being inactive for a long time. If you think that there is no way to prevent these minor injuries, you are mistaken. You can minimize the negative effects that gardening can have on muscles, neck and back by following a few simple tips. I will lay them down for you.
Getting comfortable is the key
It is very important that you feel as comfortable as possible while working, so get yourself in a position where nothing will bother you. Once you have found such a position, you can keep it by:
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Working in front of you and not trying to stretch or twist your body in some weird ways. Also, keep your work close to yourself.
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Moving your body to new working positions, if that is necessary. You do not have to be in one position or place the whole time.
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Deciding which tools are right for the job. Not every tool is useful, or comfortable, for every gardening activity.
Tool handling
How they handle their tools is what separates a seasoned gardener from an unprepared one. A seasoned gardener will know how to handle his tools and will prepare them accordingly before any gardening activity. Here are some tips how to improve tool handling:
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You should hold the tools loosely in your hand. Gripping tools too tightly may lead to injuries, some of which can be chronic and may not be discovered immediately.
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If possible, obtain a wheelbarrow to help you transport things. It is much better that you leave transporting heavy things to a tool than having to lift things yourself.
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In order to avoid having to try too hard, always keep the tools used for digging and cutting as sharp as possible.
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Having an access platform nearby at all times will help you avoid stretching too high to reach things that are at a height. Also, it will give you a much better position for working, which goes in line with keeping all the work in front of yourself.
Setting and keeping the pace
In order to feel well and to avoid any injuries, you have to find the pace of work that suits your strength and stamina. If you set the pace too hard, you will end up with all the problems that I have listed at the beginning. However, if you set it to be too lenient, then you will not get enough work done and your body will remain neglected. Here’s some advice that might help you:
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Always take a break when you feel tired. Working while you are tired will only increase the chance of you making some mistake.
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If there is a lot of heavy lifting, digging and cutting to be done, do not do it all at once – that will surely tire you immensely. Instead, spread the work over a few days or weeks, whichever suits you best. Just make a plan and stick to it.
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Do not work only one thing for the entire day. Do a little bit of everything or, at least, work a few different jobs. This way, you will avoid suffering repetitive strain injuries, which can, in time, turn into chronic injuries which might cause much trouble for you.
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Finally, whenever you work in the garden, make sure that you are properly protected from the sun. Working under a sunscreen or wearing a hat will help block the sun. Also, drink a lot of fluids. Both hard work and the sun require you to get hydrated often, so do it – always have a full bottle of water with you.
Working in your garden can be a cause for many chronic and ordinary injures, as I have already said. If you follow the tips explained here, you will surely be able to avoid, hopefully, all of these. It is important to do your gardening safely and responsibly so that you could enjoy working in it for a long time.