Helpful Advice Page
Helpful advice on how to help yourself stay fit and well
Advice for Gardeners
Think about your back when designing your garden. Introducing raised beds, using light-weight, long-handled tools and investing in sack-trucks will help.
· Planting for protection. Using ground-covering plants and surrounding them with bark helps to stifle weeds. On the patio use tubs for annuals to minimise the need for bending and digging.
· Use sack-trucks to move heavy items such pots or sacks of compost. Try and buy heavy items in smaller bags. Don’t lift and twist.
· If you only have a wheelbarrow lift items from a squatting position using your legs/knees, do not bend over. Dividing items into smaller loads also minimises the risk to your back.
· Digging. Warm up before digging with gentle stretching or with lighter tasks. Try and relax while you dig and avoid pressurised over-exertion which increases tension and back strain. Take small spadefuls or use a small spade. Take regular breaks and continue to do stretching exercises.
· Weeding and Planting. Consider using a proper kneeling pad, with side handles to enable you to get up using your legs/knees. Don’t over-reach into your flower beds and use a long-handled, lightweight hoe instead. If kneeling, take regular breaks, get up carefully and keep stretching.
· Mowing. Ensure that you have a suitable machine for your lawn, ideally with an electric start and motorised wheels. Keep upright and do not swing from side to side at the waist, particularly with hover mowers and strimmers. Take particular care removing, carrying and emptying grass boxes – consider emptying when less than full or using a mulching mower.
· Pruning. Use sharp secateurs (consider using rachet secatuers) and use long-handled loppers when appropriate. Again, be careful not to over-reach and try to cut as close to your body as possible. If using a ladder, move it often to avoid over-reaching.
Do not over use any part of the body. Try to rotate your activities to minimise repetitive strain problems.
Do you experience hand, thumb or wrist pain?
Are you finding it increasingly difficult to do everyday tasks such as opening jars, peeling potatoes or pruning the roses!
You may be one of the 8.5 million people in the UK who suffer with osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis affecting the hands, particularly the thumbs, can be painful but there are ways to help ease that pain.
At Bow House we now have on Occupational Therapist as a member of our team
Occupational Therapists are trained health professionals who help people of all ages overcome physical, social and psychological problems arising from illness or disability.
Our OT can provide advice on joint protection, labour saving techniques, exercise and splinting to help ease the discomfort caused by arthritis.
Splints can help to rest and support painful, swollen joints, for example, a wrist or thumb splint may improve grip if these joints are painful or unstable.
The OT can tailor make a thermoplastic splint to offer this support.
Think about your back when designing your garden. Introducing raised beds, using light-weight, long-handled tools and investing in sack-trucks will help.
· Planting for protection. Using ground-covering plants and surrounding them with bark helps to stifle weeds. On the patio use tubs for annuals to minimise the need for bending and digging.
· Use sack-trucks to move heavy items such pots or sacks of compost. Try and buy heavy items in smaller bags. Don’t lift and twist.
· If you only have a wheelbarrow lift items from a squatting position using your legs/knees, do not bend over. Dividing items into smaller loads also minimises the risk to your back.
· Digging. Warm up before digging with gentle stretching or with lighter tasks. Try and relax while you dig and avoid pressurised over-exertion which increases tension and back strain. Take small spadefuls or use a small spade. Take regular breaks and continue to do stretching exercises.
· Weeding and Planting. Consider using a proper kneeling pad, with side handles to enable you to get up using your legs/knees. Don’t over-reach into your flower beds and use a long-handled, lightweight hoe instead. If kneeling, take regular breaks, get up carefully and keep stretching.
· Mowing. Ensure that you have a suitable machine for your lawn, ideally with an electric start and motorised wheels. Keep upright and do not swing from side to side at the waist, particularly with hover mowers and strimmers. Take particular care removing, carrying and emptying grass boxes – consider emptying when less than full or using a mulching mower.
· Pruning. Use sharp secateurs (consider using rachet secatuers) and use long-handled loppers when appropriate. Again, be careful not to over-reach and try to cut as close to your body as possible. If using a ladder, move it often to avoid over-reaching.
Do not over use any part of the body. Try to rotate your activities to minimise repetitive strain problems.
Do you experience hand, thumb or wrist pain?
Are you finding it increasingly difficult to do everyday tasks such as opening jars, peeling potatoes or pruning the roses!
You may be one of the 8.5 million people in the UK who suffer with osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis affecting the hands, particularly the thumbs, can be painful but there are ways to help ease that pain.
At Bow House we now have on Occupational Therapist as a member of our team
Occupational Therapists are trained health professionals who help people of all ages overcome physical, social and psychological problems arising from illness or disability.
Our OT can provide advice on joint protection, labour saving techniques, exercise and splinting to help ease the discomfort caused by arthritis.
Splints can help to rest and support painful, swollen joints, for example, a wrist or thumb splint may improve grip if these joints are painful or unstable.
The OT can tailor make a thermoplastic splint to offer this support.
Do you experience hand, thumb or wrist pain?
Are you finding it increasingly difficult to do everyday tasks such as opening jars, peeling potatoes or pruning the roses!
You may be one of the 8.5 million people in the UK who suffer with osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis affecting the hands, particularly the thumbs, can be painful but there are ways to help ease that pain.
At Bow House we now have on Occupational Therapist as a member of our team
Occupational Therapists are trained health professionals who help people of all ages overcome physical, social and psychological problems arising from illness or disability.
Our OT can provide advice on joint protection, labour saving techniques, exercise and splinting to help ease the discomfort caused by arthritis.
Splints can help to rest and support painful, swollen joints, for example, a wrist or thumb splint may improve grip if these joints are painful or unstable.
The OT can tailor make a thermoplastic splint to offer this support.