Joint-Friendly Tools That Can Help You Garden If You Suffer From Arthritis

Arthritis can reduce your gardening abilities, but it doesn't have to stop you completely. There will be days when your pain levels are too much, but on the days you feel well, you can implement ergonomically designed essential gardening tools to last longer and be more productive. There are many ways you can reduce the strain of gardening on all of your joints, from the fingers to the back to the knees. Wagons, drip irrigation systems, and ergonomic tools with comfortable grips can really take the load off your joints.

Even if you have a shed full of the best tools, it's important to remember to listen to your body. Take breaks when you start to feel sore, find a helper for large projects, and remember that gardening isn't a race; most tasks can be finished over a few days rather than in just one afternoon. Gardening can benefit those who have arthritis by providing relaxation, exercise, and mental wellness, so it's important to rest as required so you can enjoy the positives of gardening for years to come.

When you have arthritis pain in your back or knees, gardening soon becomes one of those things you hate doing. Fortunately, there are many handy tools you can implement to reduce the strain and pain that comes with growing your favorite plants. Choose a raised garden bed design and planting tables that will prevent you from needing to bend over. You can plant, weed, and water without arching or bending your back, allowing you to spare yourself from needless pain.

If tall raised beds aren't feasible, rely on full-sized tools to get the job done. Rather than using hoes and trowels that fit in your hand, use the larger versions of these tools that won't require you to bend over. Be careful to keep your posture in check with these since it's easy to start leaning over without thinking. Drip irrigation hoses will make a world of difference, especially if bending up and down aggravates your arthritis. With drip irrigation, you only have to set it up once and then be done with it. After you have it in place, you only need to bend enough to turn the hose on and off. The hose waters at the ground, and you get to stay upright and out of pain.

Garden carts are useful tools and a great way to literally take the load off, allowing you to spare your hands from excessive straining. Load the carts up with heavy bags of soil and supplies, and wheel them around your garden rather than carrying them by hand. Remember to lift items with your forearms or palms instead of your fingers, which will help tremendously if you can't get a new garden cart. Large garden tools may not be helpful for hand arthritis since you have to grip them tightly, so look for small ergonomic tools. You can find some L-shaped sets on Amazon that are ideal for arthritis because they don't require you bend your wrists at awkward angles that may set off your joints.

Sometimes, garden chores require diligent work that your body can't handle all in one setting. Allow yourself to take breaks often. You can even set a timer to remind yourself to take a break. Use your break time to hydrate, cool off in the shade, and stretch out those joints. If time is of the essence, switch tasks instead of stopping altogether. Spend ten to twenty minutes on a task requiring your hands, then switch to something requiring your knees. This allows you to get plenty of work done without overdoing it.