The Hazards of Gardening

With the arrival of warmer temperatures, gardeners across the country are back outside and nurturing their gardens once again. Most of us think of gardening as a relaxing and enjoyable activity – and of course, it u sually is – but sometimes, gardening can be hazardous without proper precaution.

The repetitive movements associated with gardening — raking, weeding, digging and pruning — put stress on the hands and wrists. Many gardeners spend hours and hours performing these activities without proper form, leading to a variety of problems in the hands and the upper extremities. Warming up before gardening is just as important as warming up before any exercise routine.

• Fold your hands together and turn your palms away from your body as you extend your arms forward. You should feel a stretch all the way from your shoulders to your fingers.
• Place your hand just above the back of the elbow and gently push your elbow across your chest toward the opposite shoulder. This is a stretch for the upper back and shoulder.
• Stretch both the right and left arms. Extend an arm in front of you, making sure the elbow is completely straight. With your palm down, take the opposite hand and bend in the wrist downward. Then turn the palm up, and stretch the wrist backwards. This stretches the forearm and wrist muscles.

These stretching exercises for the major muscle groups that you use during gardening can help reduce the risk of injury. Another particularly good idea is walking around your lawn or garden a few times, and then taking the time to stretch, before beginning the physically-demanding task of gardening.

In addition to stretching there are other safety precautions you should take while gardening.

• Wear gloves at all times, as bacteria and fungus that can cause infections live in the soil.
• Keep your hands and arms covered, especially if you live in an area with snakes, spiders and rodents or in an area with poison ivy.
• Take a break every hour or so: Repetitive movements can cause tendonitis or carpal tunnel syndrome.
• Use well-designed tools with non-slip rubber or padded handles to protect the joints in your hands.
• Avoid awkward motions, alternate hands and use both hands for heavy lifting.

Lisa McKeown is a registered and licensed occupational therapist (OTR/L) and a certified hand therapist (CHT). Lisa works at Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates at our Kenmore location and is the supervisor of the hand therapy department.