After moving a flower pot on Friday I caused a flare up of my back, and I have had to really take it easy since. I know I should not have moved it, but my husband had put it onto the bench for me to sit next to it and fill it with flowers, and it was just an automatic reaction to turn it round. It's sooooo easily done for any of us I'm sure, that's why I decided to write this article on gardening and back pain, in the hope none of you come a cropper like me.
You need to watch your back particularly when gardening, BackCare say that “it is known that gardening is one of the biggest causes of back pain”.
Bend your knees down when your planting out, or use raised beds, and if kneeling then keep your back straight instead of bending over.
It is also essential that if you have not been in your garden for months then only spend a short time digging with rests in between. Pace yourself and spread out work over days or weeks.
Maybe do a little bit of stretching before you start, and NEVER pick up a heavy tub (like me) without bent knees. Also whenever possible, use a knee cushion rather than bending and remember to keep taking a break and never swing the mower.
BackCare are planning to organise a BackCare gardening week over the May Bank Holiday. A new booklet of expert advice aimed at preventing back pain while gardening is being written, and the charity is hoping to ally this with a sponsored gardening supplement in a national newspaper or gardening magazine.
After moving a flower pot on Friday I caused a flare up of my back, and I have had to really take it easy since. I know I should not have moved it, but my husband had put it onto the bench for me to sit next to it and fill it with flowers, and it was just an automatic reaction to turn it round. It's sooooo easily done for any of us I'm sure, that's why I decided to write this article on gardening and back pain, in the hope none of you come a cropper like me.
You need to watch your back particularly when gardening, BackCare say that “it is known that gardening is one of the biggest causes of back pain”.
Bend your knees down when your planting out, or use raised beds, and if kneeling then keep your back straight instead of bending over.
It is also essential that if you have not been in your garden for months then only spend a short time digging with rests in between. Pace yourself and spread out work over days or weeks.
Maybe do a little bit of stretching before you start, and NEVER pick up a heavy tub (like me) without bent knees. Also whenever possible, use a knee cushion rather than bending and remember to keep taking a break and never swing the mower.
BackCare are planning to organise a BackCare gardening week over the May Bank Holiday. A new booklet of expert advice aimed at preventing back pain while gardening is being written, and the charity is hoping to ally this with a sponsored gardening supplement in a national newspaper or gardening magazine.