Now that Spring has sprung, gardening season has finally arrived! If you have recently undergone a hip or knee replacement and want to get back in your garden, you must prioritize your new joint.
Gardening requires a lot of physical activity such as bending down, kneeling, lifting, and shoveling. Due to this, straining your new hip or knee joint while tending to your garden is a concern. Let’s uncover some joint-friendly tips you can practice to garden with ease and comfort:
- Consult Your Doctor: Before you start gardening again, it is important to discuss it with your doctor first. Depending on when you had your surgery and how your recovery has progressed, your physician will be able to tell you when you can start gardening again.
- Ease Back In: Because of the physical requirements of gardening, it is important to take it slow as you begin again. Try starting small like repotting a plant and avoid any major activities that require a lot out of your new hip or knee joint.
- Use Accommodations: When gardening, try using a stool, knee pads, or long-reaching tools to avoid unnecessary bending and kneeling that may strain your new joint. For activities that require moving or carrying a heavier load, make sure to use a wheelbarrow to lessen the stress on your joints.
- Practice Stretching: Engaging in stretches before and after your gardening session will help to keep your new joints flexible and This improved mobility and flexibility will help to avoid strain in your new hip or knee.
- Listen to Your Body: If you ever feel pain while you are gardening, listen to your body and stop what you are doing immediately to avoid a Your body will often alert you of your joint’s limitations, so make sure to recognize the signs and respond accordingly.
Your knee or hip replacement will allow you to get back to the activities you enjoy in no time, including gardening. To ensure you can safely and comfortably tend to your plants, make sure to follow these helpful tips. For more guidance on joint-friendly gardening, reach out to Dr. Ehmke for his expert advice!
AUTHOR: Dr. Andrew Ehmke is a board-certified and fellowship-trained joint replacement surgeon specializing in robotic-assisted and minimally invasive hip and knee replacement in Chicagoland and NW Indiana.
