For sufferers of arthritis, it can be easy to avoid exercise and other physically stressful activities in order to shield one’s self from the potential pain and inflammation involved. Yet, at the same time, doctors encourage arthritis sufferers to exercise in order to maintain joint flexibility and range of motion. The answer, for a lot people, is gardening. Here are some tips for arthritis sufferers on how to garden in a low-impact way that allows you to get the essential exercise, without risking unnecessary inflammation of muscles and joints.
Check with your doctor. First and foremost, get advice from your doctor. Take this list down and check as to whether the severity of your condition will limit you from doing any of the following activities.
Pick low maintenance plants. Choose plants that are low-maintenance and require less care, such as perennials instead of annuals, or get some wildflower seed.
Use warm, padded clothing. Wear warm gardening gloves to protect your hands from cold temperatures, and warm clothes to protect your joints. Also, you can buy a pair of gardening pants, which have extra padding around the knees, for greater protection while kneeling and warmth for obvious reasons.
Lift correctly. Always lift with the knees, not with the back.
Work at the best time for you. If you are stiff in the mornings, then make the afternoons your time for gardening and the opposite if you’re stiff in the evenings.
Mix it up. Don’t work in the same position for extended amounts of time. Set a maximum of 30 minutes for any given task, and come back to it later if the time wasn’t long enough to complete it.
Weed when wet. Once upon a time it was thought the rain followed the plough. Your weeding should follow the rain (or the sprinkler), as the looseness of the soil makes the weeds much easier to uproot.
Ask for help. With extra strenuous activities, don’t be afraid to ask for help from neighbors, family or friends. Pride isn’t worth the pain it’ll give you.
