Summer Gardening Tips

The summer heat is here, which means that it’s time to get out and enjoy the sunshine. With the hot days, cool nights, barbecues, and pool parties comes another summertime activity: gardening. Gardening soothes the soul, relaxes your mind, and provides you with valuable you time. But it can also lead to uncomfortable aches and pains if you don’t take steps to avoid injury. At Health Advantage of Pasadena, we want you to enjoy your time in the garden and do so without experiencing the frustration of lower back pain.

HAPPY PLANTING: TIPS FOR PAIN-FREE GARDENING

• Shake things up: Try to avoid repeating the same motions over and over again. Repeating a motion for extended periods of time can lead to muscle fatigue, muscle and joint pain, or even possibly repetitive-motion injuries.
• Lift it higher: To avoid having to bend or kneel for long periods of time, try placing plants into elevated beds or containers. They will be much easier to reach and will allow you to avoid spending time in uncomfortable positions.
• The right tool for the job: As with anything, it’s important to have the right tools for the job. The right gardening tools can mean the difference between a healthy back and a sore, injured one. Using incorrect tools can lead to overexertion and unnecessary pain.
• Leg work: You’ve likely heard it a million times: Lift with your legs! It is a common reminder and it is important even in gardening. Remember, your body works together as a whole; if your legs aren’t involved in the processes your body is trying to perform or if they are stiff and cold, it’s likely that you will experience some soreness or tiredness in other parts of your body. Which leads us to our next point…
• Warm up: Even if you aren’t planning and doing much work in your garden, you should do a quick warm up first. Stretch your muscle groups and get them loose before doing any work. Being warm can go a long way towards preventing lower back pain later in the day.