At any time of year, but perhaps most commonly in the Spring when the first sunny days lure us out into our gardens, many people end up with a gardening injury, either from overdoing things or an accident.
Winchester Chiropractor, Max Atkinson sees many patients who are in pain resulting from a biomechanical problem, exacerbated by a spell of over-enthusiastic gardening. If you are in pain, Chiropractic could help. Please call to arrange an appointment on 01962 861188 now.
The Most Common Causes of Gardening Injuries
As busy working people, we often have to get a gardening job done in precious leisure time. In trying to get the job done as quickly as possible, we often take shortcuts resulting in accidents and injuries.
We are all conscious of the rising cost of just about everything – and often try to tackle a job ourselves in an effort to save money. This includes some jobs such as hedge trimming or tree felling that would be better left to an expert – and unfortunately, accidents happen due to a lack of skill, training or physical ability.
Risk assessments are common in the workplace but in our own homes and gardens, we often do not stop to think of the potential risks if something goes wrong. Consequently, sometimes we do not spend enough time and care on the planning and preparation for a job – and end up with an injury as a result.
Of course, bad luck is an element that none of us can avoid. It is a sad fact that many gardening injuries happen, just because a person was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
How Can You Make Your Garden Safer?
Below, we have provided a helpful checklist that could potentially prevent gardening injuries and a trip to A&E:
- Use an RCD (residual current device) when working with electrical power tools. The instant cut-off of the power supply could save your life. Of course, it also makes sense not to use electrical tools in wet conditions.
- Protect yourself and your family by putting away tools as soon as they are finished with and locking away any chemicals used in the garden where children cannot get at them.
- Make a regular check of paths and steps in the garden make sure there no loose paving, slippery paths or decking and no tools such as hosepipes could constitute a trip hazard
- Dress appropriately for the job you are doing, don’t wear any loose clothing or jewellery that could get caught in machinery, do wear appropriate safety clothing such as gloves, ear defenders, protective goggles and footwear
- When you need to use a ladder, ensure that it is in good condition each time you use it. Make sure it cannot slip during use. Never leave tools at the top of the ladder where they could fall on you or someone else, or allow hedge trimmings (for example) to fall on the rungs where they could cause you to slip.
- Know your plants, learn which are poisonous to animals and children – for example, lilies are poisonous to cats, the little berries that sometimes form after potato plants have flowered may be attractive to children, but are poisonous.
- Other common sense safety advice is to always empty children’s paddling pools when not in use, cover garden ponds with safety mesh and to never leave barbecues, fire pits, or chimineas unattended.
How Can Your Winchester Chiropractor Help?
We hope that our checklist on preventing gardening injuries will prove helpful. In addition, your Winchester Chiropractor, Max Atkinson advises that if you are finding a particular activity in the garden such as digging, weeding, sawing, etc, is leaving you in pain, he can provide advice on ergonomics or a slightly different way of doing the job that could help you to remain pain-free. So, if you are suffering from joint pains, muscle spasms or lumbago that is preventing you from getting on with jobs in your garden or you need advice, call Bradford House Chiropractic & Wellness Centre for an appointment on 01962 861188.
