With Spring right around the corner, everyone is eager to go outside and enjoy the beautiful weather. One of the most common outdoor activities come Spring is gardening. Gardening is a great way to get outside and be active, however there are some techniques of gardening that if done incorrectly can cause injury or harm.
- Proper Gardening Techniques
- With the weather beginning to warm up, it is important to stay hydrated before going outside for an extended period of time. Make sure you are drinking plenty of water.
- Also make sure you stretch before beginning the activity to avoid extra strain on your muscles.
- Another thing to be aware of is the way you are carrying weight and bending over. Focus on using your legs to make sure you are not straining your back.
- Tip: To avoid prolonged bending over, you could use a stool or chair while digging or planting.
- Finally make sure you do not overdue it!!! A common way people injure themselves is by pushing themselves past their limit. Make sure you are taking adequate rests between activity and staying hydrated!
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- Benefits of Gardening
- Gardening can strengthen large muscle groups of the body including:
- Legs, buttocks, abdomen, arms, shoulders, and back
- Another benefit of gardening would be increased flexibility
- Bending down to dig, plant, and weed all require flexibility
- Just make sure to stretch before beginning gardening!!
- Gardening can also be an effective way to burn calories and increase your aerobic capacity
- 30-60 minutes of moderate activity during gardening is a great way to burn calories and enjoy the great weather while doing so!
- Gardening can strengthen large muscle groups of the body including: