5/21/07

As spring swings into full bloom, some occupational therapists are concerned that people will take to rebuilding their gardens without proper care for their bodies.

Gardening requires a lot of bending, stretching, lifting, and moving in ways that people don’t do every day and many physical therapy patients could overlook the physical rigors of the activity, potentially causing damage.

Chairwoman of occupational therapy at University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, Paula Kramer, advises people to take caution with weeding, planting, and mulching. PTs should be mindful that patients might be inclined to tend their vegetables without considering it strenuous activity.