Oakville doctor suggests limbering up before digging into the garden

The sun is out, the temperature is perfect, and your garden is calling, but before you dig your hands into that soil, make sure you’ve taken the necessary steps to ensure you enjoy your work afterwards pain free.

There’s no denying that spending quality time in the garden is good for your soul, and mental health, but it can be tough on your body.

“So many benefits — I personally find it to be a very relaxing activity,” said Kris Morettie with Terra Greenhouses. “So it’s something that we can zone in on, it’s something tangible in the physical world that gets us disconnected from social media and the digital realm.”

“I see at least one gardening injury every day,” said Oakville chiropractor Dr. Adam Solis.

He says the most common gardening injuries are muscle strains, which hurt, but aren’t typically that serious.

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“One of the other common injuries we see is if somebody is gardening — let’s say they’re really lifting up a heavy plot,” said Solis. “That process of lifting up, if they overextend their lower backs, we might be seeing some SI (sacroiliac joint) issues, or some facet irritation, the facet joints or the connecting joints between the vertebrae themselves.”

He suggests before getting dirty in the garden, to take a short walk and to do some stretching beforehand, especially if you haven’t been active over the winter.

One of the most important things to remember when gardening is to wear sunscreen and proper clothing to protect yourself from the sun.

“Gardening is an outdoor activity, it’s great for you, but being mindful of sun exposure is a big deal,” said Morettie. “So, ensure that you are wearing sunscreen, a hat is a great idea, and long sleeves if you can.”

Gardening in the early morning or early evening will help you avoid the high UV times of day, and it doesn’t hurt to have some help.

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