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Last Updated: Jul 2nd, 2008 - 21:15:22 |
(ARA) – When it comes to tools, gardeners today have more options than ever before. With all the choices in colors, shapes and sizes, it’s easy to overlook one of the most important gardening tools – your body.
Many people, despite exercising proper care and maintenance with their other garden tools, do not spend the time or effort properly caring for their most valuable tool. And for many of the hundreds of thousands who make gardening America’s number one outdoor hobby, common aches and pains associated with repetitive gardening tasks can detract from an otherwise enjoyable experience.
Aches and pains do not have to be a natural part of gardening. The following tips and guidelines from the gardening experts at GardenWay are designed to turn a potentially painful chore into outdoor enjoyment:
Prepare Your Body Properly
Regardless of your age, it’s important to take precautions before jumping into gardening chores. Start by spending a few minutes stretching to help minimize muscle soreness and the risk of tendonitis. In particular stretch your arms and back. Also be certain to have plenty of water on hand to avoid dehydrating while you’re gardening. Here are a few other key suggestions regarding body positioning:
* Keep elbows partially bent, especially when doing resistive activities.
* Hold objects with a light grasp or pinch, avoiding a tight, sustained grip.
* Whenever possible, work with the forearms in a neutral position (i.e. thumbs up).
* Watch your posture. Don’t slouch or rest your weight on one arm or leg while you work.
* Use wheelbarrows and carts to transport heavy objects or tools to save your back.
Carefully Choose the Right Tools
Garden tools developed for proper body mechanics (known as ergonomic tools) are no longer just for seniors. Today’s ergonomic gardening tools are designed to appeal to people of all ages who have either suffered from or want to prevent repetitive strain injuries, or for those who just desire a more comfortable, enjoyable gardening experience. The right tools created in the right size and weight can save the back, knees and hips, and mean the difference between enjoying a day in the garden and ending the evening with cramped hands and an aching back or elbow.
GardenWay has introduced a line of gardening tools and gift sets designed to make basic gardening tasks a little more comfortable. Its new combination kneeler/bench with foam pad, for instance, helps remove weight from otherwise sore joints as it allows gardeners to work from a more comfortable sitting or kneeling position. Simply flip over to convert from a durable bench (capable of holding up to 250 pounds) into a convenient kneeler. Of special interest to gardeners who have difficulty raising themselves up from the ground are the sturdy long handles on the sides.
There is also a new GardenWay strain-free tool set that features T-handles on longer shafts. T-handles provide greater leverage for digging into even the hardest soil and help keep the wrist in a more neutral position. The long-handled shafts not only limit the need to bend over, but they also provide greater leverage so that everyone can effectively complete strenuous gardening tasks. Sports medicine specialists estimate that women possess about 40 to 60 percent of the upper-body strength of men due to their smaller arm girth. This creates a greater need for women to compensate with longer handles.
The weight of the tool also affects stamina and energy levels. Look for tools that are heavy enough to be durable, but not so heavy they are fatiguing to use. The new GardenWay strain-free tools measure only 23 inches in length, which makes them shorter and lighter than traditional long-handle tools. Not only will they fit smaller hands, they allow the user to access tighter spaces without straining.
Proper care of tools can also facilitate gardening tasks. Keep tools with moving parts in good working order and oiled so there is little resistance during use. Also keep hand tools sharp to ensure smooth, easy movement.
Garden gloves not only protect hands from hazardous chemicals, sharp items and blisters, but they also help minimize the effects of vibration. Gloves should ideally be form-fitting and cover the smallest area of the hand possible, without being restrictive.
Avoid Repetition; Variety Is Critical
Repetitive movements can wreak havoc on any part of the body. Enthusiastic gardeners who are driven to whip their gardens back into shape in a matter of a day are prone to injury from hours of repetitive movements resulting from weeding, digging and stooping. That’s why it’s important to rotate gardening tasks frequently (at least every 30 minutes) so you don’t wake up with stiffness in the arms, legs and back.
Rest
Above all, don’t forget to rest frequently. Even if you don’t feel fatigued, take a break for a few minutes each hour. Your body will thank you later on. And you’ll feel more productive and actually get more done, so at the end of the day you’ll feel a deep sense of satisfaction rather than a hard-earned aching back.
For more information about today’s ergonomic gardening tools that are designed to minimize the pains and strains of gardening, visit www.gardenway.com.
Courtesy of ARA Content
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