Looking Forward to Gardening This Spring? Avoid These 4 Injuries
Spring gardening is just one of the things that people look forward to all winter long. It’s the perfect time of year to be outside getting your hands dirty.
However, even though spring gardening can be a fun and rewarding experience, it can also be a very difficult and injury-ridden time of year if you’re not careful. It’s not uncommon, for instance, for someone to experience aches and pains and injuries simply due to making mistakes.
With that being said, here are four injuries that can be sustained while spring gardening. Arming yourself with this sort of information can help keep you safe when winter gives way to spring.
1. Back and Lower Extremity Strains From Lifting and Bending
Some of the most common gardening injuries that people experience include back injuries. They can occur early in the gardening season if your body has not yet adapted to some of the heavy lifting that gardening entails — like bags of soil and mulch.
Bending and twisting while planting, raking, or weeding can also cause soreness or injuries. To protect your back, learn the right techniques for lifting. It’s always best to lift with your knees, never your waist, and to keep the object close to your body. If you feel a heavy object is too heavy for you, then it probably is. You might consider using a wheelbarrow or garden cart for assistance.
Taking regular breaks, including stretching exercises before and after gardening, can work wonders in preventing strain injuries. You might be surprised at how debilitating even a strain can be. It can turn your life upside down and leave you on the sidelines licking your wounds.
If you’re out and about or at work and experience a trip, slip, or fall that causes a strain or worse, it could take weeks or months to get back to normal. Serious injuries might mean taking time off work, going to your doctor for tests, and even calling a personal injury lawyer to pursue a claim.
So, you must be mindful on your property since injuries can happen to even the most careful.
2. Hands, Wrists, and Elbow Injuries Due to Repetitive Movements
Repetitive movements are part of the gardening process, whether pruning plants, digging in the garden, pulling out weeds, or planting new plants. These repetitive movements can cause pain.
It’s also important to use tools that fit your hands. Ergonomic tools have cushioned handles, and it’s easy to hold them. In order to avoid straining your muscles, it’s also essential to switch to different gardening activities. Don’t concentrate on weeding for hours at a time. Instead, spend time tackling various gardening activities like planting, watering, or weeding.
- Joint Pain in the Knees Caused By Kneeling or an Awkward Position
Squatting or bending for an extended period can also be a source of knee problems. Wearing knee pads or a garden kneeler may be a suitable way to alleviate any pain or pressure on your joints. Using a garden stool or a low bench, meanwhile, could help you get closer to the ground without putting much pressure on your joints.
It’s also a good practice to change positions occasionally. Get up, stretch, and take a walk occasionally to ensure that the blood is flowing well.
4. Heat-Related Issues and Dehydration
The spring season can be very deceptive in terms of its weather. For instance, the mornings may be cool while the afternoon might warm up considerably. If you’re not careful, you might find yourself so engrossed in gardening that you end up forgetting to drink fluids or apply sunblock. Making this mistake could mean experiencing issues related to dehydration or dizziness.
It’s important to drink water even when you’re not feeling thirsty. Wearing light clothing and a hat will protect you from the sun, and taking breaks in shaded areas can also help. The best times to garden are usually during cooler parts of the day. Listening to your body is the key here. If you’re experiencing light-headedness, tiredness, and discomfort, take a break.
Gardening should be an enjoyable hobby or pastime. But it’ll feel more like punishment if you don’t take the right precautions. The most common garden injuries in spring happen when gardeners rush into their front or backyards without any preparation.
Going about things the right way will ensure you can enjoy gardening and the fruit of your labor.
