iVillage

Ouch! How to Treat Common Gardening Injuries

Warm weather means more time spent in the great outdoors. Here's how to handle common injuries and mishaps when you're gardening or doing yard work (11 Photos)

Arricca Elin SanSone on Jul 20, 2012 at 10:31AM

chime in now

Single View
View All

1 of 11

Ouch! How to Treat Common Gardening Injuries

Martine Mouchy/ Photographer's Choice/ Getty Images

Achy Knees

Repeated kneeling or squatting may cause stiffness, swelling or a feeling of weakness in the knees due to osteoarthritis, says Sandra Adamson Fryhofer, M.D., past president for the American College of Physicians. Ice the area for 10 to 15 minutes several times a day and try a few days of acetaminophen (some people find ibuprofen to be more effective). Next time you’re out in the garden use a kneeling pad or sit when doing work on the ground such as weeding.

See your doctor if: Pain doesn’t improve in a few days -- she can rule out other conditions such as bursitis.

Filed Under:

Comments Hide

Do you have a garden?