With extra time at home and the seasons in the midst of changing, it’s a great time to get some yard work done! Not only will it give you an activity you can feel proud of, it is also a perfect source of physical activity. However, if you’re recovering from an injury, gardening can seem out of reach. Here are our top tips for gardening with an injury to keep yourself safe while still enjoying a favourite pastime.
Here are 5 ways to ensure you’re gardening safely to avoid further injury:
- If you are raking leaves or grass, keep your strokes short. Let your legs take the brunt of the load here and avoid overreaching and twisting by activating your core.
2. When lifting bags of fertilizer or yard scraps, make sure to bend at the knees. Hold the bag in as close as possible to your body. Activate your core and again, let your legs do the work.
3. Weeding the garden can mean spending a lot of time bent forward on your knees. To minimize the negative effects of being in this position for too long, set a timer for 20-30 minutes. When it goes off, move around a bit, stretch and then re-set the timer and get back to it.
4. Another great trick is to picture a square that you can easily reach everything inside of. When you have finished that square, picture another one and move to that area. This will help you avoid overreaching and twisting.
5. Don’t be afraid to take breaks. Feeling pain may not mean that you’ve caused damage, however, it does mean your body is unhappy about the position you are in or activity you are doing. If your pain levels are increasing, stop what you are doing and reevaluate your approach. If you are not able to find a way to do it with minimal levels of discomfort, walk away from it and mention it to your therapist next time you see them.
Yard work can be deeply therapeutic, allowing an opportunity for fresh air and physical activity. As long as you take precautions and listen to your body, it is a great tool during these uncertain times!
If you have any questions about yard work or other outdoor activities, please don’t hesitate to contact us!