Here are some tips and tricks to make sure your gardening days won't get nipped in the bud!
Protect your joints. When you stretch out your joints and muscles to loosen up before you put them to work, you’ll help prevent injuries … and you’ll even feel better when you get out of bed the next day! If you decide to carry heavy items, make sure that you lift with your legs, not your back, and keep whatever you’re carrying close to your body. Better yet, take an extra precaution and use a a wheelbarrow (or your grandchildren’s strong backs)! If you’re kneeling squatting,or even sitting, make sure you take plenty of breaks and change positions often.
Grow your garden. Pots and raised beds keep you from having to bend, squat, or kneel to do your gardening. By adjusting the height of your garden, you can even sit on a stool or chair while you work! These types of gardens also help prevent over-exertion.
Use joint-friendly tools. Most brands have modified gardening tools made specifically for aging joints, including handle designs to reduce hand stress, longer handles or extensions that allow you to stand, and pads to cushion your knees. If you have trouble gripping your standard garden tool, an easy fix is to wrap the handle in pipe insulation foam.
Water wisely. Watering cans can be extremely heavy and some hoses can also put stress on your shoulders and wrists when you try and pull them across a yard. Buy flexible, expandable hoses and lighter weight water dispensers or fill up the can a little at a time to reduce the risk of injury.
DOCTOR IN SPOTLIGHT
Meet Dr. Kimberly Smith
Doctor Kimberly Smith is an internal medicine physician and is the medical director for Home Healthcare 2000's New Iberia area. She is a native of St. Martinville, LA. She attended Tulane University for undergraduate studies, University of Louisiana at Lafayette (formerly USL) for graduate studies, and the LSU Health Science Center for her degree in medicine. She is married, has three children, and has been practicing in New Iberia since 2004.
Our Fall Prevention Program
Who are candidates for our evidence-based Fall Prevention Program?
Patients 65 years old or older
Those who have fallen or nearly fallen in the past
Have memory problems
On Coumadin or Coagulation Therapy
Take more than 3 medications, either prescription or over-the-counter medications
Health Problems that Increase Risk of Falling:
Stroke Depression and Dementia
Low Blood Pressure Osteoporosis
Parkinson's Disease Arthritis
Diabetes
The Role of the Physical Therapist (PT)
The PT performs the initial physical therapy evaluation. The PT initiates the physical therapy Plan of Care. Some Physical Therapy interventions in the home include:
Gait Training
Active range of motion exercises
Passive range of motion exercises
Endurance training
Home exercise program
Assistance with utilizing durable medical equipment (Wheel chairs, Walkers, lifts, etc.)
Transfer training
Muscle reeducation
Prosthetic /Orthotic training
The Role of the Occupational Therapist (OT)
The OT performs the initial occupational therapy evaluation. The OT initiates the occupational therapy Plan of Care. Some Occupational Therapy interventions in the home include:
Muscle reeducation
Perceptual motor training
Fine motor coordination training
Teaching & management of prosthetics & orthotics
Teaching & management of dressing & grooming
Home environment & safety assessment
Teaching use of assistive devices
Teaching use of appliances
Independent living & daily living skills management
The Role of the Speech Pathologist (SP):
The SP Performs the initial speech pathology evaluation. The SP initiates the speech therapy Plan of Care. Some Speech Pathology interventions in the home include:
Voice disorder treatments Speech articulation disorder treatment
Dysphasia treatments
Language disorder treatments
Oral rehabilitation
Non-oral communication