Gardening for Heart Patients

Gardening can be a very rewarding way of keeping active in order to maintain and improve fitness and wellbeing. There is a wide range of gardening activities – some are lighter and easier to do, others are more strenuous and may be more challenging. Different fitness levels are required to tackle different gardening tasks.

Benefits of gardening

• Has a positive impact on physical, mental and emotional health
• Improves and maintains stamina
• Increases and maintains muscle strength, endurance and joint suppleness
• Increases and maintains balance and co-ordination
• Improves confidence and can help alleviate stress

How can I get in shape and when can I start?

It is sensible to start with lighter tasks e.g. deadheading flowers and light pruning rather than anything that involves bending, digging, pushing and heavy lifting. You may need to build up your flexibility stamina, strength and balance to be able to carry out some gardening tasks, but as your fitness improves, you will be able to progress to more challenging activities. As with any activity, start low and go slow, build up gradually and pace yourself. Do not try to do too much at first, progress slowly over a few weeks. Starting will vary depending on your own circumstances and a specific heart condition.

For example:
If you have a pacemaker or Implantable Cardioverter Device (ICD) –

• Dependent on the device, you may need to wait six weeks after your procedure to allow the leads to settle before certain arm activities.

ICDs in particular –

• Power tools temporarily affect the normal function of your ICD, so the use of these should be avoided.

If you have had open-heart surgery –

• During the first 12 weeks, you should be cautious with strenuous arm activity e.g. lifting heavy garden pots and mowing the lawn, in order to minimise problems with the healing of the breastbone.

What about warming up and cooling down?

It depends on what you plan to do, but the gardening tasks performed should be easier to do at the beginning and at the end, e.g. start and finish with easier activities such as potting, light weeding, planting out seedlings, tidying up beds, and light pruning.

How should I feel?

You should feel comfortable and able to continue with the activity. You should not feel so breathless that you cannot talk.

It is fine to feel that you are exerting yourself, but if you find yourself struggling, try to make tasks easier or do less when you are in the garden. If you feel exhausted following your gardening session, you may have done too much or the activity may have
been too demanding for you.

If you have attended cardiac rehabilitation, think about how you feel compared with how you felt in the exercise sessions – your level of exertion should be similar.

How can I make gardening easier?

• You may need to find ways to make jobs easier in the short and long term.
• Plan and prioritise your gardening schedule, particularly if you are recovering from a heart event.
• Try not to change positions too frequently, e.g. bending down and standing up, as this could make you feel dizzy or light-headed. Having raised beds or using a garden kneeler will limit bending.
• Select tools carefully and consider purchasing those that weigh less or power tools that are easier to start. Use a lightweight wheelbarrow or trolley and do not overload it.
• Half fill watering cans or use a hose.
• Some gardening tasks e.g. hedge-cutting/pruning or sweeping leaves may be particularly strenuous and can be much harder work for your heart. Consider asking someone else to assist or do the task for you.

Other things to consider

• Avoid holding your breath when performing tasks that require effort
• Dress appropriately for the weather conditions
• Do not garden straight after eating a large meal

Note: The information provided in this article is not intended to replace the advice that your doctor or cardiac rehabilitation team has given you, based on their expert knowledge of your condition.

This guide is based on available evidence and expert opinion and is produced by the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Cardiac Rehabilitation.