Gardening can be a great way for people with arthritis to stay active. But the pain and discomfort involved may often get in the way of getting things done. Here’s three tips to help you get out from in front of the television and back into the garden.

1. Avoid uncomfortable kneeling

If having to get down in the garden is getting you down, then avoid it altogether. We have several products to help you do just that. The Planting Stick allows you to dig the perfect hole while standing.

The Planting Stick

Just press down on the easy to grip neoprene ball and rotate the tool clockwise using the cushioned turning crank. You’ll be able to dig holes in difficult soils and hard to reach places without worrying about bent and broken trowels — or bent or broken backs! The Planting Stick is durable, made of welded steel, and can last for many growing seasons.

For when you need to get lower to the ground and standing isn’t an option, take a seat! The Garden Seat Caddy gives you a place to sit and has four wheels so you can move around. It has metal wheels covered by rubber tires for extra durability. It also includes a handy tray underneath the seat so that all your hand gardening tools are right there when you need them. Its light weight yet strong design makes it a perfect solution for getting your hands dirty without the pain and discomfort of getting down on your knees.

2. Use ergonomic tools

Traditional tools aren’t necessarily designed for the best possible comfort for the person using them. They require you to conform to the tool instead of the tool conforming to you. The Easi Grip collection of garden tools solves this problem.

Easi Grip collection of ergonomic hand garden tools

Each hand tool comes with a non-slip grip that is set at a right angle to the tool. This allows you to grip and use the tool comfortably, avoiding the need to bend and twist your hand into positions that might not be possible because of arthritis.

If your fingers or hands often hurt or are weak, the Easi Grip Arm Support Cuff plugs into any Easi Grip tool and allows for the use of upper arm strength to use the tools. Less strain on your fingers and wrist means you can get more done, comfortably.

Easi Grip Arm Support Cuff

If you are sitting and need to further reach, the Easi Grip Long Reach Garden Tools can give you that reach while providing you with the ergonomically shaped handle. Its a perfect companion to the garden seat caddy, allowing you to sit, move about, and avoid bending over and putting stress on your back. Because of the increased weight of the long reach tools, we recommend using the Arm Support Cuff with them.

3. Know your limitations

No one knows you quite like you do. There’s no need to push yourself past what you can reasonably handle. Take breaks if you need to. Work during times of the day when you know you will feel more energized. Arrange your garden so that you can better tend to it. Use tools like the ones we described so that you can keep your body as strain-free as possible when working. In doing so, you will allow yourself to work longer while experiencing less discomfort. Arthritis doesn’t have to stop you from doing what you love!

Use tools made for standing and sitting so that you avoid kneeling and bending over. Instead of contorting yourself to use a traditional hand tool, use tools that conform to you and give you more reach. And work in your own way, considering your limitations, so that arthritis stays out of your way.

Follow these tips and you’ll be back to your gardening, getting things done, and loving every minute!