Growing without groaning: A brief guide to gardening when you have chronic pain

Gardening can provide physical and mental health benefits, but can be challenging for those with chronic pain.

Expert advice: Physical therapist Rebecca Stephenson offers tips for gardening without exacerbating pain.
* Recommendations include pacing oneself, breaking the project into smaller tasks, and taking breaks.
* Stephenson suggests using a back brace to remind oneself to use abdominal muscles and offer support.

Adapting gardening practices: Stephenson provides various positions and techniques to reduce strain while gardening.
* Working in a seated position using a stadium chair, kneeling on a foam pad, or working with one knee on the ground can provide support and comfort.
* Alternating arms and hands during activities like raking or digging can also help minimize repetitive strain.

Raised beds and planters: For those who struggle with bending or crouching, raised beds and railing planters can elevate the garden for easier access.
* Raised beds should be about twice as wide as one’s arm length and can provide support for the upper body while engaging abdominal muscles.

View original article on NPR

This summary was created by an AI system. The use of this summary is subject to our Terms of Service.

Contact us about this post

Posted

in

by

Tags:

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *