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10 Spring Gardening Tips Help People with Arthritis Reap More Pleasure
Columbia, Mo. (Mar. 14, 2006) - Spring is traditionally the busiest season for gardeners. As the mellow breezes of March finally arrive through the window, it's time to wake up your garden. While gardening might not be as easy for those with arthritis, a few simple modifications can help "weed" out the stress and "rake" in the pleasure.
Working in the garden can be both challenging and beneficial for people with joint problems. While painful joints and weak muscles can make picking up a hoe or even bending to the flowerbed an ordeal, gardening provides an enjoyable way to exercise in the fresh air. In fact, it is recommended by the Arthritis Foundation as a great activity to maintain joint flexibility, bone density, range of motion, as well as a better quality of life.
"One's enthusiasm of gardening shouldn't be dampened by arthritis," remarked Karen Funkenbusch, a research associate and rural safety and health specialist at the University of Missouri-Columbia, "just by making a few changes to your equipment and methods can turn this physical challenge into a great workout."
Start when you feel your best. Do your work in the garden during the time you feel best. Wait till afternoon if you experience morning stiffness or soreness, so that you'll be able to work longer with greater ease.
Warm up. Jumping into work with cold muscles may bring pain to joints and muscles. Take three to five minutes to warm up by walking or stretching. This will also help prevent injuries.
Select lightweight tools and make some necessary modifications. There is a wide range of garden tools designed to make cultivation, weeding, pruning and tidying up easier. Find the tools that best suit your special needs. Sometimes, a small adaptation can make a big difference.
If bending and stooping appear to be a problem, choose products that have long handles or use an auxiliary handle to extend your reach.
If gripping a rake too tightly causes pain in your knuckles, make yourself a "fat" handle with electrical tape, bubble wrap or sponge. This will make your grasp easier and absorb jarring.
Choose low-maintenance plants. These plants can present you the same pleasure without requiring too much of your attention. Many plants and perennials don't need regular pruning or replanting. Consult a good gardening manual or gardening friends for advice.
Arrange your garden layout in the right way. If you are willing to take on some bigger projects, there are some things you can do to the garden layout to make future gardening much easier.
Pave the paths along the beds and borders. For those who have difficulty with balance on uneven ground, use non-slip paving slabs to make paths safer.
Narrow the beds to no more than 4 feet wide, so that the middle can be reached from both sides without leaning too far.
Raise the beds. If bending to ground level or working from a wheelchair poses problem for you, a raised bed at a convenient height is not only very helpful but is also more interesting than a one-level garden.
Make use of containers and clay pots. Container plants enable you to work at a comfortable height and can be an attractive decoration both indoors and outdoors.
Keep resources close. Make essentials handy so that you don't waste energy on hauling things back and forth.
Carrying water in cans and buckets is tiring. Minimize your water trips by positioning a water source around the central point so that a short length of hose will easily reach any part of the garden.
If the tool shed is not close enough, use an old children's wagon to transport tools, plants and other supplies around the garden.
A carpenter's apron with multiple pockets is handy for frequently-used tools.
Protect your fingers. Too much pressure can cause damage to the small joints of the hand. When carrying or lifting, try to spread the load by using both hands and arms, rather than with the fingers only. And, make sure not to rip open soil bags with your fingers.
Take frequent breaks. "Doing little but doing often" is the rule of thumb for people who are older and people with joint problems. Be sure to take frequent breaks, if you plan to work longer. You may also consider gardening on a comfortable seat. It might not give you as much exercise, but it can greatly reduce the weight on your joints.
Ask for help. Although you don't want to lose the pleasure and satisfaction of doing your own gardening, there will be times when you need help, such as shifting heavy loads or carrying bags.
For additional information about gardening, please visit https://fsb.missouri.edu/gardenweb/ or contact the Missouri AgrAbility Project of University of Missouri-Columbia at 1.800. 995.8503.
The Missouri Arthritis Research Rehabilitation and Training Center (MARRTC) was established in 1971 at the University of Missouri-Columbia Arthritis Center. MARRTC is funded by the U.S. Department of Education's National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (H133B031120) and is the only federally funded arthritis rehabilitation research and training center in the country.
As part of the MU Health Communication Research Center (HCRC), MARRTC's mission is to become a national leader in the areas of disability management and communication, improve the quality of life and promote independent living among people who have arthritis and arthritic conditions. MARRTC's core message is "Disability is everyone's issue."
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