SPR I NG 2019 / DI A BETIC LI V ING 13
Remake
SM A LL CHA NGES
W ITH BIG IMPACT
MIQUEL LLONCH / STOCKSY
PLAN YOUR PLOT Keep soil
well-groomed and clear of tripping
hazards, such as hoses. Consider
incorporating functional hardscapes
like benches and paved paths. Th ey’ll
take up space less bare earth re-
duces maintenance while making
your grounds easier to navigate,
advises retired physical therapist and
certifi ed master gardener Patricia
Kolling.
PROTECT YOUR SKIN W e l l - fi tt i n g
garden gloves protect your skin from
pricks and cuts without adding pres-
sure to joints. Look for a pair that
doesn’t strain across your knuckles
when you make a fi st, but also has
minimal excess fabric, Kolling says.
Wear sunscreen, long sleeves and
pants, and solid, closed-toed shoes.
POSITION PROPERLY While dig-
ging, bend at the knees, keep your
back mostly straight, and make small,
controlled motions instead of stretch-
ing your arms far. Th is technique may
reduce your risk of back and joint
pain, suggests a 2018 British study.
TREAT YOUR KNEES KINDLY
Consider planting in pots or raised
beds, so you can pull up a seat. If you
must kneel, use pads or benches, says
American Physical Th erapy Associ-
ation spokesperson Maura Iverson,
D.P.T., M.P.H. Benches with arms
make gett ing up and down easier.
Growing Pains
Cultivate a beautiful plot—minus
the aches and stiffness—with these
ergonomic tweaks & tools.
BY CINDY KUZMA
