Expert advice Gardening with arthritis

Experts talk to HANNAH STEPHENSON about how to manage aching joints

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MORE than an estimated 10 million of us, young and old, suffer some form of arthritis in the UK, which can affect how we live our lives - and how we garden.

But there are ways to alleviate pain and discomfort when doing gardening jobs and to help reduce the chance of aching joints when setting about basic tasks in your outdoor space.

"Pacing, posture and positioning are key," says Damien Newman, training, education and consultancy manager at Thrive, a gardening for health charity which helps improve people's health through gardening and horticulture.

Obviously what you can do in the garden depends on the type and severity of the arthritis, but it is important to keep exercising, says Dr Wendy Holden, medical advisor and honorary consultant rheumatologist at charity Arthritis Action.

"Exercise is not going to cause any harm and that's an important thing to know. Even if things hurt, it's not causing damage. You can't damage your joints by using them."

TASKS WHICH MAY BE DIFFICULT

"If you've got stiffness and pain in your hands, things like gripping secateurs are going to be difficult. Potentially, hedge trimming would be difficult and other physical manual dexterity tasks," Dr Holden explains.

If you have pain in the knees and hips, it's going to be more difficult to kneel down to do weeding and you'll need to be careful lifting anything. The experts offer the following tips on how best to garden if you suffer from arthritis.

POSITION YOURSELF COMFORTABLY

"Obviously, if you have arthritis affecting your lower limbs, gardening in a seated (pictured) or stood position is going to be a lot easier on the joints that are being affected," says Damien. "Try to keep your back neutral and work with your limbs at 90-degree angles."

Don't overstretch by using long-handled tools which are too long for your body, he says, as overstretching restricts blood flow which can exacerbate symptoms.