I've pruned over 1,000 trees this year and my hands still hurt like I just started

Hit that number last week. Thought after a few hundred my hands would just get used to it. Nope. Still wake up stiff every morning. Anyone else's grip strength just never catch up?

3 comments

3 Comments

elliot_miller229d ago

You're saying "my hands still hurt like I just started" and I gotta wonder if maybe you're just overdoing it a bit. I mean, 1,000 trees is a lot of cuts, but your body usually adapts if you're resting right and not pushing through sharp pains. Stiffness in the morning could be more about how you're gripping the tools than the actual volume of work. Might be worth checking your pruners or loppers for ergonomics (like padded handles) before assuming it's a lost cause.

jaken237d ago

Oh man, @elliot_miller22 you nailed it. I had the exact same thing happen to me a few years back when I was pruning a ton of fruit trees. My hands ached like crazy until I realized I was death-gripping the handles like I was trying to squeeze juice out of them. Switched to a pair of pruners with bigger, padded grips and it made a world of difference. Also, taking a real break every hour to stretch your fingers helps a lot more than just pushing through. Your mileage may vary but it's worth trying before you give up on the whole thing.

paul_thompson676d ago

Yeah, "checking your grip" is exactly right. I used to have the same problem and I thought my hands were just done for. Turns out I was squeezing those handles like they were going to run away from me. Switching to a pair of loppers with those big soft grips was a game changer, seriously. Also, I started wearing those cheap padded gardening gloves and it made a huge difference for my morning stiffness. Sometimes it's the little things you don't think about that mess you up the most.