April 2022 – Health Tips for Gardening

As springtime approaches, weather warms up and leaves turn green, many people will spend more time outside
planting bulbs, mowing the lawn and pulling weeds. Gardening can provide a great workout, but with all the bending, twisting, reaching and pulling, your body may not be ready for exercise of the garden variety.

Gardening can be enjoyable, but it is important to stretch your muscles before reaching for your gardening tools. The
back, upper legs, shoulders and wrists are all major muscle groups affected when using your green thumb.

“A warm-up and cool-down period are as important in gardening as they are for any other physical activity,” said
Dr. Scott Bautch of the American Chiropractic Association’s (ACA) Council on Occupational Health. “Performing simple
stretches during these periods will help alleviate injuries, pain and stiffness.”

To make gardening as fun and enjoyable as possible, it is important to prepare your body for this type of physical
activity. The following stretches will help to alleviate muscle pain after a day spent in your garden.

Garden Fitness Stretches

• Before stretching for any activity, breathe in and out, slowly and rhythmically; do not bounce or jerk your body, and stretch as far and as comfortably as you can. Do not follow the no pain, no gain rule. Stretching should not be painful.
• While sitting, prop your heel on a stool or step, keeping the knees straight. Lean forward until you feel a stretch in the back of the thigh or the hamstring muscle. Hold this position for 15 seconds. Do this once more and repeat with the other leg.

• Stand up, balance yourself, and grab the front of your
  ankle from behind. Pull your heel toward your buttocks and hold the position for 15 seconds. Do this
  again and repeat with the other leg.
  
  
• While standing, weave your fingers together above
  your head with the palms up. Lean to one side for 10
  seconds, then to the other. Repeat this stretch three
  times.

• Do the “Hug your best friend.” Wrap your arms around yourself and rotate to one side, stretching as far as you can comfortably go. Hold for 10 seconds and reverse. Repeat two or three times.

Finally, be aware of your body’s technique, form and posture while gardening. Kneel, don’t bend, and alternate
your stance and movements frequently.

When the Bulbs are Planted…
If you already feel muscle aches and pains and did not complete the warm-up and cool-down stretches, there are ways to alleviate the discomfort. Apply a cold pack on the area of pain for the first 48 hours and/or apply a heat pack after 48 hours, and consider chiropractic care.