Name: Will Creed
NYC
Prof. plant consultant & educator
Answer from WillCSeptember 3, 2017
| Most joint problems are a result of gradually weakened muscles that support those joints. Wek muscles and support tissue lead to the gradual wearing away of the cartilage in the joint. Stretching can help and is important, but muscle strengthening is the best long term remedy. |
Name: Deb
Planet Earth (Zone 8b)
A comment from BoneheadSeptember 3, 2017
| I agree with Will. My husband has had several joint related surgeries and the docs always give him pre-surgery home exercises to strengthen the supporting muscles, advising that as much as he can do beforehand will hasten his recovery time. |
North Central Massachusetts (N (Zone 5b)
Life & gardens: make them beautiful
| HUGE thank you to you both. I will start strengthening exercises, and stretch gently both before and after gardening from now on. So glad I posted this question! |
Name: Lynn
Oregon City, OR (Zone 8b)
Slow leg stretches and some Alieve do it for me. Make sure your muscles are warm when doing the stretches.
|
North Central Massachusetts (N (Zone 5b)
Life & gardens: make them beautiful
| Thanks @valleylynn. Do you stretch before gardening too? |
Name: Lynn
Oregon City, OR (Zone 8b)
| Joanna, sorry to say I don't stretch before gardening. But I do afterwards. Let me know how the stretching and muscle strengthening does for you. : ) |
North Central Massachusetts (N (Zone 5b)
Life & gardens: make them beautiful
| Thanks @valleylynn, I will. Already started strengthening exercises, and have been gently stretching since you replied. Feels better already! |
Name: Lynn
Oregon City, OR (Zone 8b)
| Great to hear that Joanna. What exercises are you using for strengthening? |
North Central Massachusetts (N (Zone 5b)
Life & gardens: make them beautiful
| Thanks @valleylynn, just one for now. Sitting with my knee and hip joints at right angles, I slowly lift my feet (i.e., straighten my legs) while maintaining the 90 degree angle in my hips, hold for a count of 5, then slowly lower. I repeat 10 times each time I do it, and am going for three times a day. Is that about as clear as mud? Hope I explained it okay. |
Name: Deb
Planet Earth (Zone 8b)
| Re joint pain, I make a linament like tincture by soaking as much marijuana leaves as I can jam in a jar of high-proof alcohol (Everclear) for a month or so, straining it, then adding several drops of arnica essential oil. It's kind of messy, so I usually apply it outside. Other herbs that might be helpful might be chamomile, willow, agrimony, angelica, or comfrey. My wrists tend to throb after gardening and this does give me some relief. I'm also taking a cap of turmeric daily for general inflammation. I can't speak to that as yet, I've only been doing so for a couple weeks and I am fairly unreliable about taking any sort of pill on a regular basis - good thing I don't need any daily medications! |
Name: Philip Becker
Fresno California (Zone 8a)
I agree. I have a hard time getting up from kneeling to weed or pick. I have kneeling pad. I kneel down, and work area from pad. Then stand up for a minute or 2. Walk, a bit, observing, or enjoying the beauty. Move pad, and start next area.
😎😎😎 |
Name: Bea Kimball
Little Rock, Arkansas; (Zone 7b)
| I sit on a small stepping stool sometimes. It only works for the edges of the bed, but any little bit helps. |
North Central Massachusetts (N (Zone 5b)
Life & gardens: make them beautiful
| Here's where I wish I had a thumbs-up thingee! Great idea @Buzzbea424. Why didn't I think of that? And now I need that emoji where I'm slapping my forehead <3. |
