Preventing Injuries While Gardening

Ladder use and lawn mowing are amongst the top causes of DIY injury in Australia, according to Monash University. The Australian Osteopathic Association (AOA) is holding its annual Osteopathy Awareness Week April 22 – 28, 2007. This year’s theme, ‘prevention is better than cure’, focuses on how osteopaths can also assist people of all ages to prevent injuries that occur very easily in daily life, especially in the garden.

Osteopathy is a form of drug-free, manual medicine that focuses on total body health by treating and strengthening the musculoskeletal framework. It positively affects the body’s nervous, circulatory and lymphatic systems.”Osteopathy is a unique holistic approach to health care. We do not simply concentrate on treating the problem area, but use manual techniques to balance all the systems of the body,” explains Mr. Scott Baxter, Federal President of the AOA.Osteopaths deal regularly with patients who have been injured while carrying out simple activities in the garden. Such patients may present with complaints of lower back pain, muscle strain, wrist stiffness or joint soreness.Osteopaths know how easily some of these injuries can be prevented. Preventing injuries means less time off work and out of the garden and therefore more time being outdoors and enjoying the benefits of general good health. It is vitally important for all Australians to be aware of how injuries can occur and what you can do to avoid them.Lifting, reaching and bending: Simple movements can cause injury very easily. Osteopaths advise bending your knees and hips as you lift heavy items, and avoid sudden, jerky movements, or you could risk damaging your lower back or straining your muscles.Change positions: Staying in the same position for long periods of time also puts a lot of strain on your body. Osteopaths can show you how to minimise the risk of injury in the garden, and can manage any pain you may already experience, by using soft tissue, articulation or stretching techniques during treatment.”With our lives becoming increasingly busy, yet sedentary, osteopathy offers a prevention plan that is quick and easy, which is a good way for individuals to maintain their health,” says AOA Federal President Baxter.Osteopathy is safe for all age groups and Osteopaths not only treat a specific reported problem but also provide advice on diet, exercise, stress reduction, posture and breathing. Osteopaths encourage individuals to proactively prevent injuries and ailments, which in the long term leads to better overall health and less time and money spent on treatment.Osteopathy can be utilised as the primary form of health care or in addition to the care provided by a General Practitioner. Osteopathy is acknowledged by all major health funds as well as Medicare Plus and attracts a rebate with a GP referral for chronic pain.(Source: Australian Osteopathic Association : June 2007.)