Calling All Green-Thumbed Athletes! (Part 1 of 3)
There are many summer sports and with this article I wanted to touch on a very popular one that causes aches and pains and often requires hours of training and sporadic competition throughout a long season. This sport is of a green and growing variety – it is gardening!
Gardeners know all too well that a healthy growing crop requires a rigorous workload of tending the greens and harvesting the goods it produces.
Growing up in rural North Dakota, my parents were recreational gardeners and my grandfather was a former farmer. Large gardens inhabited a variety of vegetables, fruits, herbs, flowers, etc. which would quickly find their way to the dinner table or a canning Jar. From this background I have come to appreciate the sweat and true sportsmanship required to succeed in a “sport” like gardening.
The complexity of the sport. Thought goes into seed selection, soil composition, planting times and other growing logistics while physical labor goes into landscaping, soil tilling, lifting, moving, planting, watering, pruning, harvesting, etc. This hard work can cause soreness to the body, but with the appropriate provisions the ‘weekend warrior’ or the ‘constant gardener’ can prevent back and neck pain, knee pain and more.

Although gardening is generally a low impact activity, many approach this summer sport as an activity that does not require much special preparation. Be conscientious that you do not make the transition from the winter months to this new activity too quickly. Our deconditioned, or shall we say “winterized,” bodies can be susceptible to spring and summer injuries. After many hours of kneeling, repetitive bending over and lifting through awkward positions can result in pain, stiffness and a reduced ability to enjoy the summer months.
For tips on how to prevent injuries while gardening stay tuned for Part II and III of this blog.