Trowel and Error: Ergonomics and Proper Gardening Techniques

Oh, the summertime joys of Gardening!  Seeding, planting, growing, and weeding along with the bending, digging, pulling, and carrying. Gardening tools have come a long way since the early 1900’s.  Many tools back then were made completely of metal, or metal and wood, with rudimentary handles. These garden tools caused muscle tension and tendon stress on the arms, wrists, and hands. Today’s garden tools feature more ergonomic designs such as rounded handles or curved handles for a better grip.  However, these ergonomic tools are just modified tools without the use of proper body mechanics.

There have been multiple studies done on the importance of body mechanics training to prevent injuries.  Gardening can be physically challenging due to repetitive movements and there is a risk for injury if proper body mechanics training is not utilized.*

What does this really mean?  With proper guidance on how to use adaptive tools, pain can be minimized, and injury can be avoided.  In the You Tube video, Ergonomic Gardening Tips for Arthritis Patients, Maria Rothenheber, O.T. demonstrates how to use some ergonomically modified tools with the proper technique.  (Click Here to See the Video) As you can see by the video, proper hand placement plays a crucial part in using a trowel.

Gardeners learn by trowel and error. So, check out your local garden center, find your best tool fit, and read up on how to use that tool correctly.  It’s the ergonomic way…. garden smarter, not harder!

You can also check out our gardening reel on Instagram by clicking here.