Garden Ergonomics

Like many people, I love to garden; yet, after foolishly thinking that I could still do everything in the garden as I did back when I was twenty-five, I was forced to face facts,-I'm not getting any younger. My back, legs, and arm muscles are not what they used to be. Although gardening is a great way to stay in shape, as you age, it's also a great way to put your back out. That is, however, if you fail to pay attention to and practice simple garden ergonomics. Ergonomics is the study of work. The point of ergonomics is to make those working more comfortable while maintaining good health and productivity. Just as in the workplace, one must also practice the same ideas elsewhere, such as in the garden. Discomfort and fatigue in the garden is just as bad on a person as it is in the office. Understanding and practicing garden ergonomics significantly reduces both discomfort and fatigue while increasing the level of production with regards to garden tasks.

When using hand tools such as shovels, rakes, or hoes, it is important to keep your wrists as neutral as possible to lessen the chances of injury or weakening of the wrists. Unfortunately, I have tendonitis in my wrists, making even the simplest of garden tasks unbearable whenever it flares up. However, utilizing garden ergonomic techniques and some common sense has helped dramatically, allowing me to finish the job at hand. Of course, wearing a wrist brace hasn't hurt either. Wearing gloves protects the hands from blisters, dryness, calluses, and even dirty nails. However, some of us prefer to feel the soil in our fingertips, as we are more in tune with nature this way. Therefore, garden ergonomics or not, this one is more of a personal choice. I generally save the gloves for the more heavy-duty gardening tasks, like shoveling and hoeing, while keeping them off for planting and weeding.

Never use your back for lifting and try to avoid bending or stooping for extended periods to prevent both neck and back strain. Bending can also stretch nerves, putting strain on the spine. It is also a good garden ergonomic practice to use kneepads when kneeling for extended periods, such as weeding. Kneeling in the garden is unavoidable; however, it is often helpful to kneel on only one knee at a time while holding your back straight. Always try to work in an upright position while using specific garden tools such as shovels, hoes, or rakes. Maintaining good posture while in the garden reduces stress on ligaments, tendons, and joints. Good posture also cuts down the risk of back injury.

A good tool is essential to any gardener. For proper garden ergonomics, it is best to look for and use tools with padded handles or textured grips for easier handling and comfort. Select tools that are lightweight as well. It is also important to have the right tool for the job. You should consider each gardening tool purchase with great care, basing each on your specific gardening needs. For instance, a trowel is good for small digging jobs while shovels must be used for handling large-scale digging. Bulb planters are handy for plopping a few bulbs in the ground while, once again, shovels cover larger areas of bulb planting with ease. Lightweight snips or cutting shears are best for cutting flowers while saving the bulky pruners for clipping hedges or shaping trees and shrubs. Lightweight electric shears also work well for this, saving both time and backaches. When choosing a wheelbarrow, look for one with good maneuverability, durable construction, and one that is easy to handle when full. It is important to have a wheelbarrow that you are able to lift and control easily. Otherwise, consider a garden cart. Gardening involves a lot of carrying things like soil, plants, pots, mulch, and garden tools. A lightweight garden cart can easily accommodate these needs while preventing back strain.

Unless you have small hands like me, using large-handled tools is normally easier on the hands than the smaller ones. Tools should not only be well suited for the job but also to your height as well. For instance, I'm only 4 feet 11 inches. For obvious reasons, using tools with long handles can be quite awkward, not to mention tough on my small frame. Likewise, if you're somewhat tall, I imagine the use of short-handled tools would be just as tricky. There are now many tools, however, that come with adjustable handles. Although they may be more expensive, these tools are well worth it, especially considering the fact that most households have people of varying heights living there and using the same tools. Of course, there are also the neighbors that enjoy borrowing them too!

When performing gardening tasks, don't try to do too much at one time. As with any form of exercise, there are risks if you overdo it. I should know, been there done that. This is why you should always take plenty of breaks and even stretch out beforehand to prevent the risk of injury or achy muscles later. If you have more than one gardening task to perform, such as weeding, watering, and harvesting, break them down into short intervals, going back to them at a later time. You should also drink plenty of water to remain hydrated and energized. With all that digging, shoveling, hoeing, weeding, bending, pulling, planting, and so on, our bodies respond with pain and sore, achy muscles. To reduce possible long-term injury and ease the gardening experience, especially for older folks, it is important to learn proper usage of gardening techniques and tools of the trade. Not all gardeners are the same and neither are their garden tools. When you have the right gardening tool for the task and practice good garden ergonomics, not only is the project much easier, but the results in the garden and on your health are far greater.