Knees becoming a problem

Mindy Wallace · 2005-01-06T20:31:46+00:00

My knees have just about had it as far as gardening or seriously cleaning any type of floor. What does everybody do to cut down on the strain? Do you kneel on something, or squat, or use a short stool?TIAMindy

Jan 06, 2005 25 Replies

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Ann 21 years ago

Eyebright expounded:

I have no problem kneeling, but I have an excellent kneeling pad, it's a big thick red one with indents for my knees. I've seen them offered in catalogs, but I can't remember which one now. The guys who installed my front brick walk/terrace used it and raved about it. If I stumble across it again I'll post it here in wreck.gardens.

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Anne Lurie 21 years ago

When I Froogled (Google's shopping website) for "garden kneeler," I found this, which looks like the step that David mentions on his website:

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There is also a companion product that has wheels instead of legs. (I was given a folding kneeler/seat, but it's metal and the pad is very flimsy, so I rarely use it.)

Also, Gardener's Supply offers a "tractor scoot" with a seat that swivels:

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Anne Lurie Raleigh, NC

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Gail Futoran 21 years ago

Heck, I'd settle for being 50 again! :)

Gail

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dr-solo 21 years ago

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ List Manager: Puregold Goldfish List

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the problem, dont waste energy finding who's to blame ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Unfortunately, I receive no money, gifts, discounts or other compensation for all the damn work I do, nor for any of the endorsements or recommendations I make.

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Bandicoot 21 years ago

Hmmm, same age as me - and knees about the same too! I used to be an archaeologist, which is said to be second only to carpet fitter as an occupation gauranteed to wreck the knees. All this not helped by a couple of sports injuries as a child too.

Knee pads do help, but I tend to find them inconvenient to put on and take off when I'm just popping out do do twenty minutes' weeding, so usually just use a soft foam pad that I carry around. Sitting for what I can helps, and so do long handled tools that increase the number of jobs I can do seated, or standing.

A while ago I had a back injury and was given exercises to do to strengthen the back muscles and also to stretch my hamstrings, since they are very tight and this was apparently putting more strain on my back. Doing this seems to have helped the knees a bit too.

Sadly, there are no magic answers...

Peter

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jtill 21 years ago

One thing, Home Depot has these grabbers for picking up things, about

20 bucks. I have Carwashes and two Fox Terriers, both leave trash and toys all over, my grabbers make it easy to pick up. They are strong enough to pick fruit, pull small weeds, just handy as can be. Home Depot also sells Orange 5 gallon buckets, I got one, cut a finger hole in the bottom, took off the handle (it gets in the way) makes a great seat, light, easy to move. Put a few plastic grocery sacks in your pocket to use with the grabber when picking up, when it gets full tie the top and it is neat bundle, easy to dispose of. Happy Gardening. Joe Tillery, Baytown, Texas

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