Garden

Gardening is Good for You

The Canadian Physiotherapy Association (CPA) is confirming something gardeners have always known: Gardening is good for you. Follow our tips for making it even more beneficial.

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Credit: GardenWise Online

However, with its focus on crouching, bending, reaching and lifting, gardeners need to be aware of their bodies:

  • Warm up with stretches that are slow, pain-free and sustained for 10–20 seconds.
  • Work within your physical strength. Occupational Health Standards list safe lifting loads as 29 kilograms (64 pounds) for middle-aged men and 12.5 kg (28 lbs) for women, but a safe lift is less when the load is low to the ground or overhead.
  • Match the size of the gardening-tool handle to the size of your hand.

For more information, visit the Canadian Physiotherapy Association website.