Warm Up: You wouldn't play sports or work out without warming up, so it makes sense to warm up before doing something as physical as gardening. A quick walk and some gentle stretching can work wonders before hunkering down to the flower bed.
Change Position Frequently: Prolonged static positions can be damaging. When doing a lengthy task, change positions frequently. If you're working close to the ground, as in weeding, you can sit, kneel, half-kneel, and get on all fours. Vary your position to give your back a break.
Shift Tasks or Take Breaks: Rotate through your tasks so you're not doing any one thing for too long. Weed for 10 minutes then switch to raking, then to clipping, then back to weeding, etc. If you've only got one job to do, then just make sure you take a stretch break and/or change position every 10-15 minutes.
Use Good Body Mechanics: Always make sure to avoid bending in your back, especially when lifting. Keep your back straight, tighten your abdominal muscles, and bend at the hips and knees. Don't lift too much at once. Break large loads up into several smaller loads. Use a smaller spade when digging. And move your feet to avoid unnecessary twisting in your back.
Use Ergonomic Tools: Lighter-weight tools ease the load on your back, and tools that allow you to stand instead of bend over are back savers as well. A quick search can find websites that sell ergonomic gardening tools, like Gardeners.com.
Happy Gardening
