Regardless of the position you are gardening from, small or children's tools are often lighter and easier to manipulate. You may also customize your tools, a shovel for example, by attaching the blade from a children's tool to a standard length handle. There are many innovative designs for tools available in the marketplace today. Hand tools like trowels have been developed with trigger-style grips that have a little nub to rest the index finger on. Others offer a curved handle or cuff to reduce the need for a tight grip while still affording maximum leverage.
Some companies offer tools with handles that are larger, contoured, and cushioned.
You don't need to purchase new tools, however. Many of your favorite tools may be easily modified. You can cushion your tool handles by adding grips designed for tennis rackets or bicycles, foam tubing or even self-adhesive ace bandage. Long-handled tools offer greater leverage, but often strain the wrist and back and legs. To permit leaning and to alleviate this stress, fasten a support handle about 30 inches from the top of the long handled tool.