Joint Pain

The Joy of Gardening...

By the end of the winter I am itching to get in the garden.  I've forgotten all about how much I hate to weed and my aching back after bending all day.  All I remember is the feel of the dirt and the satisfaction of planting new flowers and plants.  I can't wait to go to the nursery and carefully pick out my next addition - usually to replace the ones that didn't make it over the winter.

Gardening is a wonderful way to get outside and soak up some vitamin D from the sun and get a little exercise at the same time.  However, there are a few things us weekend warriors need to remember as we return to the great outdoors.

1.  Dress to protect. 

This is a lesson learned after tangling with blackberry bushes or re-potting a very poky pine tree.  Wear gloves, goggles and clothing as needed.  Don't stay out in the sun very long without a hat and sunscreen.  A little is OK (10 to 15 minutes) to get vitamin D, but you don't want to burn.
 

2.  Put safety first. 

Be very careful when operating tools and equipment.  Pay attention to what you are doing and others around you! I was once so excited about using my new electric powered hedge trimmer, that I forgot to pay attention to the cord itself and proceeded to chop it in half!  I tried to hide the cord in the garbage can, but my husband found it anyway.

3.  Watch our for heat-related illness.  

If you live in an area with high temperatures, make sure to work outside in the early morning or late evening when it is cooler.  Drink plenty of water and do not over exert yourself.  Running through the sprinkler occasionally feels great too.

4.  Know your limits.

If you have arthritis, use tools, benches, wagons, or anything that makes it a bit easier.  Gardening is a great way to get those joints moving and actually relieves arthritis pain.

5.  Enjoy the benefits of physical activity.

As noted above, gardening is just a great way to get physical exercise while enjoying yourself.  Active people are less likely than active people to be overweight and have many other diseases.  Start slow and gradually build up your time and intensity levels. 


For more information see http://www.cdc.gov/family/gardening/ for the complete article.

Don't forget to take your liquid glucosamine and chondroitin supplement to help with those joints while gardening.  

Do you have any great gardening stories?  I would love to hear them - send me a comment and I may post your story in by next blog post!