How to Prevent Gardening Injuries?

Spring's warm weather and longer daylight hours make it a great season to be outdoors to take walks and see flowers in bloom. Spring is the perfect time to start gardening. You may or may not have a gardening routine but it is important to remember that gardening comes with a lot of body movements and motions that may cause injuries. 

Gardening movements and motions, may include:

• Weeding
• Lifting
• Planting
• Mulching
• Digging
• Kneeling
• Raking

Safety, comfort and good posture is important when it comes to your body and using tools in the garden. Don’t put your body through stress and shock if your body isn’t used to gardening. You may cause aches and pains to your back, shoulders and knees if you are not physically prepared. 

The following tips may help minimize aches and pains during gardening:

• Warm up by walking and stretching your limbs and spine
• Take breaks and give your knees a break
• Change up your positions to avoid stiffness or cramping
• Push don't pull
• Garden with good posture
• Avoid heavy lifting and use a wheelbarrow to move materials around
• Stay outdoors after gardening to stretch, relax and loosen your muscles

If the above tips don’t help with your gardening aches and pains, our physical therapists at Reddy Care Physical, Occupational and Aquatic Therapy may help. Physical therapists help with improving movement, quality of life and patient education. Your physical therapy treatment plan may consist of manual therapy, hands on therapy, massage therapy, stretches, myofascial therapy, exercise rehabilitation, strengthening exercises. Call Reddy Care to get an evaluation today! 

Great Neck: 475 Northern Blvd., Ste.11, Great Neck, NY 11021   Tel. (516) 829-0030

Farmingdale: 309 North West Dr., Farmingdale, NY 11735   Tel. (516) 420-2900

Woodbury: 150 Woodbury Rd., Woodbury, NY 11797   Tel. (516) 367-1111

Deer Park: 2024 Deer Park Ave., Deer Park, NY 11729   Tel. (631) 243-0247

North Shore Towers: 272-78 Grand Central Pkwy., Floral Park, NY 11005   Tel. (516) 344-0030

In-Home Physical & Occupational Therapy (Home Care): 516-829-0030 

*Home therapy servicing Long Island, Queens, Staten Island, Brooklyn, the Bronx & Manhattan*

Bayside - Aquatic Therapy: 208-32 Cross Island Pkwy., Bayside, NY11360  Tel. (718) 224-8480

Oceanside: 2421 S Long Beach Rd., Oceanside, NY 11572  Tel. (516) 992-2282

Sources: ChoosePT, OSIPT

Links: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube

Written by:

Dr. Vinod Somareddy, PT, DPT

President

Reddy Care Physical Therapy

Reddy Care Occupational Therapy

Reddy Care Aquatic Therapy

Author

Reddy Care Physical & Occupational Therapy Reddy Care Physical & Occupational Therapy is an outstanding specialty service providing exceptional care and state-of-the-art treatments for the residents of Farmingdale and Great Neck, New York. The combination of innovative exercise programs, manual therapy, and technology together with the expertise of every member of the team enables Reddy Care Physical & Occupational Therapy to provide services that ensure superior clinical outcomes and consistently high patient satisfaction.