Injury-preventing garden gear

5. Power rake

No ordinary rake, a rotating handgrip allows you to adjust the angle of raking that best suits you. $41.50, Lee Valley.

6. Back support belt

Bending, lifting and crouching in the garden can get tiresome on your back, so invest in a good-quality back support to take some of the stress off your lower back. $24.95, Kuny's.

7. Back-saver grip

This ergonomic handle helps reduce back strain by changing the position of your grip and can be fitted to most straight-handled gardening tools. $11.50, Lee Valley.

8. Shovel

The contours of this shovel and lightweight handle make it ideal for gardeners with joint pain or arthritis. $34.97, Copperhead

9. Bionic Classic Gardening Gloves

"'Sticky' gardening gloves protect your hands and decrease stress on your finger joints," says Roper. This particular product has been approved by the Arthritis Foundation Ease of Use program, a program that encourages manufacturers to design user-friendly products and packaging. $39.95, Bionic Glove.

10. Fingers-Free Snips

The ergonomic pistol-grip handle of these scissors makes it the perfect pair for gardeners (or anyone) with joint pain in their fingers. $14.50, Lee Valley.

Lee Valley product photos courtesy of Lee Valley Tools.

Read more in How to and The Healthy Gardener