Although it may not be the first activity that comes to mind when you think of injury, gardening can involve prolonged periods of kneeling, lifting and twisting and is a common cause of pain or discomfort, particularly in the summer months.
Commonly, cuts, scrapes and tool accidents can occur whilst gardening and these things can be prevented by simple things such as wearing suitable clothing:
- Wear gloves to protect hands from cuts/scrapes and potentially harmful bacteria
- Consider light, long sleeved clothing to protect against insect bites and other cuts/scratches
- Remove rings to reduce the chance of catching these and causing injury to the fingers
- Wear eye protection when cutting/pruning to prevent eye injury
In addition, the repetitive nature of gardening can cause other issues such as shoulder pain, back and neck pain, elbow and wrist pain or knee pain.
As with any physical activity, it is not possible to completely eliminate the risk of injury, however, here are a few simple tips to help reduce the risk:
- If you are not used to doing long stints in the garden, pace yourself! Take regular breaks and gradually build up the time spent doing physical work
- If you are not used to heavy lifting, get some help! Try to keep unaccustomed load close to your body when lifting, and get a second person to help where possible until you build up your strength
- Use a kneeling pad. Kneeling on hard surfaces for lengthy periods may cause irritation to the soft tissues around the knees, kneeling on something softer helps to reduce the pressure on these areas
As with any physical activity, it is completely normal that you may feel slightly stiff or achey after a long gardening session.
Usually these aches and pains should resolve within a couple of days of gentle movement and good hydration. However, any injuries that do not improve, or worsen after a couple of weeks may benefit from a physiotherapy assessment, to get you back doing what you love as soon as possible.