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Body

Don’t ignore gardening pain: It could signal something serious

 

Woman tends to the garden in fall.Most people do not head for the garden planning to finish the day with aches and pains or a serious injury. Tending flowers, trimming bushes, planting a new tree, and even mowing the lawn, can be considered a way to relax and enjoy the outdoors. For the gardener, nothing is more satisfying than stepping back and seeing how beautiful it all is.

Unfortunately, gardening and working in the yard can lead to all kinds of injuries, such as pulled and torn muscles; back injuries; tendonitis in the elbow; thumb pain and carpel tunnel syndrome. 

Too often, once we have suffered some kind of injury, we ignore it, believing it will go away. If it is serious enough, it won’t. It will only get worse without treatment.

Physical therapists and occupational therapists often hear patients say, “I can’t squeeze the toothpaste tube because of the pain in my thumb,” or, “I can’t lift my arm because it hurts.”

Patients also have admitted that they have experienced tingling and numbness in their hands for a long time before finally making an appointment to see the doctor.

Prevention is the best medicine

It is important to remember that if you have pain after gardening, and if it lasts for longer than a few days, you should call the doctor. The best thing to do is to take preventive action before going to work in your garden. Here are some tips:

  • Plan ahead: If there are several tasks you need to complete in the garden, make a plan that includes how long you will work on each task and how often you will rest. Don’t try and get everything finished in one day.
  • Stretch before you begin to work: Stretching makes your body more flexible and decreases the risk of injury. Make sure you are using good body mechanics when bending and lifting even light loads.
  • Invest in the latest ergonomic gardening tools. They are lighter and are designed to support your hands and upper extremities to prevent injury.
  • Know your body: When you feel tired, stop and rest. Your body is telling you that you are beginning to do too much and that you can be at risk for injury.
  • Be mindful of repetitive motions: If you need to do a repetitive task such as clipping the dead roses or pulling weeds, take breaks often and be mindful of how long you are doing it. Stop one task and do another that uses different muscles. Stop and stretch the muscles you are using.
  • Drink plenty of water: You can become dehydrated without realizing it. Make sure you are drinking plenty of fresh water, especially as you exercise. Dehydration can contribute to muscle pain.
  • Avoid the heat of the day: We have high humidity in Delaware. High heat and humidity together can put you at risk for heat exhaustion or worse*.
  • Relax at the end of the day: Once you are finished working in the garden, go inside and enjoy a hot shower or bath. Remember to stretch again.

* If you, or a friend or family member have been working hard in the garden on a hot day and begin experiencing symptoms such as dizziness or loss of consciousness, difficulty in speaking or breathing, heart palpitations, chest pain or stiffness, and a fever, it could be heat exhaustion, heat stroke, a stroke, or a heart attack. Call 911 immediately.

For more information about our services, call Beebe Physical Rehabilitation at 302-645-3933.