Gardening: Joy, Graft, and the Occasional Twinge

Hasn’t the recent spring sunshine been glorious? I hope you’ve had the chance to soak it up and get out into your garden – whether that’s sowing seeds, digging borders, or just enjoying a cuppa in the sun.

Gardening is one of life’s great pleasures. It feeds the soul, gets you moving and rewards your effort with beauty, birdsong and, if you’re lucky, a bumper crop of veg. But let’s be honest, it’s no small feat. Behind every neat lawn and blooming border lies a mountain of graft… and more than a few aches and pains.

The gardener’s workout

If you’ve ever heaved a bag of compost, dug out a stubborn root or tackled an overgrown hedge, you’ll know gardening is a full-body workout in disguise. You bend, twist, lift and stretch – often for hours on end. That kind of movement can take its toll, especially on your lower back, shoulders and neck.

Take my compost bins, for example. I’ve got four of them – each holds 300 litres – and I turn them over every January. It’s great exercise, but not exactly kind on the lower back. You’re forward-flexed, twisting, lifting heavy loads… basically, it’s a recipe for a strain if you’re not careful. And I’m speaking from experience.

From pruning to planting (and a surprise sunburn)

Another risky moment? Hedge trimming and pruning season. We’ve all been there – thinking we can power through with the loppers or hedge trimmer without giving a second thought to our posture. But upper body strain, particularly around the rotator cuff muscles in the shoulder, is something I see a lot of in the clinic. These injuries can be stubborn, so please do take care.

And just when you think you’re safe doing something as gentle as planting seeds… cue another mishap. One sunny April morning, I was in the greenhouse, happily listening to my favourite radio show, Blues Power, and planting away. The sun was shining, the greenhouse was roasting, and I ended up taking off my T-shirt to enjoy the warmth. It wasn’t until later that I realised I’d managed to get sunburnt. While sowing seeds. In a greenhouse.

It’s all part of the joy, and challenge, of gardening. A labour of love, yes, but one that can leave you with aches and pains if you’re not careful.

We’re here when your garden leaves its mark 

If, like me, you love your garden but sometimes it leaves its mark, don’t suffer in silence. Massage can work wonders – easing sore muscles, relieving tension and helping you get back to doing what you love.

And when you pop in, I’d love to hear how your garden’s growing – whether it’s a glut of courgettes or a compost bin catastrophe. After all, gardening is best enjoyed (and endured!) together.