I have treated a few patients lately who felt dizzy when gardening. Their stories made me realize that many other people likely feel dizzy when gardening, especially when spring and summer roll around.
In this blog, I share some common gardening tasks that might make you feel dizzy.
Bending Forward
One of my patients recently told me that she was getting dizzy when gardening. She kept feeling really dizzy while fertilizing her roses.
The dizziness while bending forward to fertilize her roses was the reason she finally called me. Now, after only two treatments and completing a home exercise program, she is 100% better and happily gardening away!
Gardening tasks and yard work that require bending forward include:
- Fertilizing
- Planting new plants
- Laying down mulch or rocks
- Pulling weeds
- Raking leaves
- Picking up after pets or other debris on the lawn
- Starting the lawn mower
Dizzy Looking Up
I also found that some other people get dizzy when gardening because of dizziness looking up.
One of my patients says he always knows that he needs to call me for a vertigo treatment if he gets dizzy trimming the trees in his yard.
Gardening tasks and yard work that require looking up include:
- Trimming hedges and trees overhead
- Trimming tree branches
- Pruning vines on a trellis
Leaning Forward with One Ear Down
I had another new patient tell me her story about getting extremely dizzy when gardening. She told me that she had a terrible vertigo spin and almost fell while working in her yard. She was reaching underneath her patio table to clean off the spider webs. This activity caused her to lean forward with one ear turned down to the ground so she could see the underside of the table.
Gardening tasks and yard work that require leaning forward with one ear down include:
- Cleaning spiderwebs off the underside of tables
- Clipping roses
Seek Help from a Vestibular Physical Therapist If You Get Dizzy When Gardening
In this blog, I have shared examples of gardening tasks that may cause dizziness. If you feel dizzy, get a vertigo spin, or lose your balance while gardening, then it is time for an intervention!
I recommend for you consult with a Vestibular Physical Therapist if you get dizzy when gardening.
For more information and resources on vertigo, please head over to the Vertigo Detective.
Disclaimer
This blog is provided for informational purposes only. The content and any comments by Dr. Kim Bell, DPT are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The details of any case mentioned in this post represent a typical patient that Dr. Bell might see and do not describe the circumstances of a specific individual.
Before gardening I didn’t have vertigo. I have vertigo for about last three years. As advised by doctor on vertigo attack I take Cinnarizine 20 mg + Dimenhydrinate 40 gm twice a day.
I have short of hearing and tinnitus in right year. Using hearing aid in right ear for more than a month.
But vertigo has become chronic even with hearing aid.