Webinar to Help Arthritis Sufferers Keep Their Gardens Growing

PurdueLogoGardeners who suffer from arthritis will learn from a May 29 webinar that they still can find ways to continue their hobby.

The National AgrAbility Project at Purdue University will host the free webinar to provide an overview of gardening tasks and the relationship between arthritis pain management and gardening activities. "Gardening with Effective Arthritis Management" will begin at 3 p.m. EDT.

"Those with arthritis don't necessarily have to give up this popular pastime because they have arthritis pain," said Paul Jones, National AgrAbility Project manager. "This webinar will help show them how they can continue to enjoy it."

Arthritis is the No. 1 disability-causing disease in America, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nearly 50 million Americans have been diagnosed with at least one form of arthritis.

In addition to the enjoyment it brings, gardening is also a beneficial activity for maintaining range of motion, bone density and strength, joint flexibility and overall quality of life, Jones said.

Topics to be discussed at the one-hour webinar include:

* Arthritis limitations and barriers.
* Tools and techniques for planting, weeding and harvesting.
* Ergonomic and mobility issues.
* Selection of proper growing media and plant varieties.

Amber D. Wolfe, National AgrAbility Project coordinator for the Arthritis Foundation, and Stephen J. Swain, assistive technology specialist for the National AgrAbility Project, will lead the presentation.

Wolfe serves as a national resource for rural arthritis issues and provides training workshops for professionals and consumers. Swain conducts disability and accessibility assessments of farms, homes and businesses and works in cooperation with Indiana Vocational Rehabilitation.

A question-and-answer session will follow the presentation.

Register at www.tinyurl.com/garden-webinar by May 24. Instructions for accessing the webinar will be sent to registrants by May 28.

For more information, contact AgrAbility at 800-825-4264 or agrability@agrability.org.