As spring comes to an end and summer begins, sustaining a garden takes some work! Watering, deadheading, and fertilizing are just a few garden chores that will keep you busy. It feels very satisfying knowing that you are helping new and old plants come to life, especially during one of the hottest months of the year. However, the plants are not the only ones sustaining the eighty- and ninety-degree weather; you are too! Spending time under the sun, kneeling as you care for your flowers and vegetables, can take a toll on your joints and back. Instead of applying an Icy Hot patch to the sore area every time you head out to the garden, set up an evaluation with a STARS therapist who can teach you how to combat the pain through exercise and physical therapy!
When you spend your day kneeling and bending over, your joints can become stiff and inflamed. They may swell up, causing the hour or two you spend nurturing your garden to be uncomfortable. This is especially true if you stay in one spot for an extended time. To loosen up the stiff joints, STARS physical therapists will often customize daily exercises to improve blood flow to the different sore and stiff regions in your body. These exercises may center around “stretching, strengthening, toning, and stability.” Your physical therapist may also incorporate both manual and E-STEM (electrical muscle stimulation) therapy into your healing plan to help relax your nerves, allowing for a better outcome.
While you nurture your garden—fertilizing the soil and replenishing it with water—don’t forget to nurture your body as well. If you are experiencing unwanted and lasting pain from time spent tending to your garden, STARS therapists are here to help you get your hands back into the dirt pain-free!
To find out more about STARS services, therapists, and locations please visit www.starspt.org
