{"id":8188,"date":"2026-03-25T15:09:27","date_gmt":"2026-03-25T19:09:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.coto.org\/?post_type=resource&p=8188"},"modified":"2026-03-25T15:46:41","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T19:46:41","slug":"how-to-get-back-in-the-garden-after-mobility-loss","status":"publish","type":"resource","link":"https:\/\/www.coto.org\/resources\/how-to-get-back-in-the-garden-after-mobility-loss\/","title":{"rendered":"How to get back in the garden after mobility loss"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Published March 2026 with NewsCanada\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Whether it\u2019s due to arthritis, a life event or another cause, losing mobility can be a difficult adjustment. It can make simple but meaningful activities like gardening seem suddenly out of reach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some ways you can reclaim independence in your outdoor space:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Use safe techniques and posture<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Avoid putting too much pressure or load on your smaller joints whenever possible. For instance, grabbing or pruning by pinching puts much more load on your thumb than the rest of your hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When lifting, put the load on your biggest, strongest joints, and use both hands whenever you can. Instead of lifting with your fingers, hook your palms, forearms or even elbows through handles, and always lift by bending at the knees, not the back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Switch to more ergonomic tools<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When choosing tools, look for lighter options\u2014heavier tools take more muscle work and put more strain on the small joints in your hands. By using tools designed to be user-friendly, you can do the same job with less effort and strain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, a shovel that has a soft handle can be easier for someone with arthritis to use because the softer material reduces strain on the wrist. Kneeling on a cushion or strapping on knee pads will reduce strain on your knee joints, as well as fatigue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Adapt your garden to be more accessible<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Bending over for long periods to work in soil beds that are at ground level adds a lot of strain. One solution is to consider using tall planters that you\u2019re able to work in while standing or sitting in a tall chair or stool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also consider using fabric planters. They\u2019re lighter than clay or plastic, even with wet soil, and many have broad handles on each side to move them more easily. You can place them on a bench or table so you can work without having to bend over. They\u2019re also easy to empty by flipping inside-out for quick mid-season transitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Access an occupational therapist<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

These health professionals can assist you in building new skills and finding new tools that can better support you in the garden or other activities that mean a lot to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Working with one can help you manage your energy and find new ways to promote your independence. In this province, they must be licensed by the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario. You can learn more about what to expect from an occupational therapist at coto.org\/ot<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Published March 2026 with NewsCanada\u00a0 Whether it\u2019s due to arthritis, a life event or another cause, losing mobility can be a difficult adjustment. It can make simple but meaningful activities like gardening seem suddenly out of reach. Here are some ways you can reclaim independence in your outdoor space: Use safe techniques and posture Avoid […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"advanced_seo_description":"Losing mobility can be a difficult adjustment. Read more for some ways you can reclaim independence in your outdoor space.","jetpack_seo_html_title":"How to get back in the garden after mobility loss | COTO","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":""},"resource-audience":[16],"resource-topic":[40,32],"resource-type":[],"class_list":["post-8188","resource","type-resource","status-publish","hentry","resource-audience-public","resource-topic-awareness","resource-topic-guidance-for-patients-clients"],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.coto.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource\/8188","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.coto.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.coto.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/resource"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.coto.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.coto.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource\/8188\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8295,"href":"https:\/\/www.coto.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource\/8188\/revisions\/8295"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.coto.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8188"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"resource-audience","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.coto.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource-audience?post=8188"},{"taxonomy":"resource-topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.coto.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource-topic?post=8188"},{"taxonomy":"resource-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.coto.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource-type?post=8188"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}