If you visit one of the beautiful private gardens opening for ‘Springtime on the Mountain’ this weekend, you’ll likely feel inspired to transform your own yard, especially now the warmer weather has officially arrived.
Why not – gardening is a wonderful way to stay active, be outdoors, and rewarding when you can see the fruits of your labour, but before you reach for the shovel or head off to the nursery, ensure you’re prepared!
While pruning, weeding, potting, planting and mowing may not seem like exercise in the traditional sense, these repetitive movements can place significant demands on the body.
For some, it also aggravates and flares-up existing conditions all from a task that may seem relatively minor.
A little muscle soreness can be normal, however significant or persistent and progressively worsening pain requires attention.
Often, we treat people who admit to putting up with pain until it becomes unbearable, because they feel frustrated with their own bodies.
One of the best ways to reduce your risk of injury is to treat gardening like any other physical activity:
- gently warm up beforehand by moving your shoulders, back, hips, knees, wrists and ankles.
- choose the right tools that are appropriate for your height, strength and the task to reduce any unnecessary strain, and always use good lifting technique!
- when moving soil, mulch, pots or other heavy awkward objects, keep the load close to your body, bend through the hips and knees and avoid twisting when lifting.
- ensure you change positions regularly by alternating between standing, squatting and sitting
- remember to pace yourself. While it’s tempting to want to get everything done as fast as possible, remember Rome wasn’t built in a day!
- see your physiotherapist before and after to prevent injuries.
Physiotherapy isn’t just treating injuries or simply getting rid of pain then sending you on your way.
The aim is to restore optimum movement and strength, prevent injuries, and build your confidence in your own body.
By first assessing your strength, flexibility, balance, movement patterns, physical capacity and identifying areas that may need improvement, we then develop an exercise program or provide practical advice about modifying tasks so you can continue doing the activities you want to do.
Remember that looking after your body is just as important as looking after your garden!
To find out more call Tamborine Mountain Physiotherapy & Sports Injury Clinic on 5545 0500
