No matter how old you are or what your fitness level, gardening is a great way to improve general health and develop fine and gross motor skills. There’s an activity in the garden for every muscle group, and if you put enough time and effort into it, the long-term benefits will stretch beyond your physical body.
Read on to find out more about how gardening can help you fine-tune your every move.
1. Working the whole body to develop gross motor skills
Gross motor skills involve multiple muscle groups and movements of the body, and they play a significant part in determining developmental progress. Fortunately, gardening is great for developing basic skills like balance and coordination, the foundations of all other physical movements. The process of planting, watering, and nurturing plants requires plenty of standing, crouching and bending, and often involves making multiple movements at once, making it a perfect exercise for general physical development.
2. Working with your hands to develop fine motor skills
There’s a long list of daily tasks that require developed fine motor skills, from childhood all the way through to old age. The term refers to any activity that requires the use of your hands, and the garden is home to plenty of micro-activities that tick this box. Seemingly simple things like weeding, planting, potting, repotting, and picking or cutting off dead leaves are great for working the smaller muscles in the hands, and the benefits to the garden are a beautiful bonus.
3. Working with small objects
The first mark of a truly devoted gardener is a shed filled with tools for keeping the garden pristine, and the second, the well-oiled gross and fine motor skills that come as a post-use benefit. Every time you get out the pruners, dig a spade into the soil or pick up a rake to tidy the leaves, you’re putting the muscles in your hands to work. Even lifting a watering can helps with muscle development and maintenance, so don’t discount the smaller movements. It all makes a difference!
4. Working with large objects
Manipulating objects of any size requires various muscle groups, but when your focus is on gross motor skill development, you’ll find that large objects like wheelbarrows, buckets, and hoses get the best results. Using these things requires a combination of balance, coordination, and strength in the upper and lower body, especially because the process often requires multiple simultaneous movements at once. Just be mindful of the potential for injury when you’re working with something heavy, and remember to use your legs, rather than your back, when lifting or moving it.
And with enough repetition, they’ll create an opportunity for muscle growth and toning.
Interested in getting into gardening?
Adam from Fired Up People says “Gardening is one of the best free versions of “occupational therapy” there is. It’s a great way to stay mobile and healthy at any age, and once you see the fruits of your labour, you won’t want to give it up.” Mission Viejo tree and garden professionals can help you out.
