(lifepr) (Selsingen, 13.03.2012) In the last 17 years, well over 100 products have been awarded the "Certified & Recommended" seal of approval by the AGR (Aktion Gesunder Rücken e. V.). Since it was founded in 1995, the AGR has advocated the provision of information and education for preventing and treating backache. The central objective of the AGR consists in developing an awareness for the significance of back-friendly conditions in order to foster healthier backs. The work of the association is inseparable from the seal of approval, as back-friendly everyday commodities are an important element in the therapy and prevention of backache. Together with a lack of exercise, one other major cause of muscular and articular disease consists in incorrect posture and one-sided strain resulting from unergonomic everyday commodities. But how do these have to be designed in order to provide relief for the back and support the spinal column? What should the consumers heed when making purchasing decisions and how can differences in quality be made clear? In view of the fact that it is usually not possible to see whether a product is back-friendly or not at first glance, the AGR has developed the "Certified & Recommended" seal of approval as a reliable decision-making aid for consumers. "The AGR seal of approval is a serious, unique quality attribute for ergonomic, orthopaedic everyday aids", says Detlef Detjen, AGR Board of Directors. "It is only awarded to products that satisfy the strict testing criteria of an independent committee of medical experts and therapists". The seal of approval was developed in cooperation with Germany's two largest back school associations Federal Association of German Back schools and Forum Healthier Backs, and received the overall verdict "very good" from the ÖKO-TEST magazine. In recent years, it has been awarded to numerous everyday products such as office furniture, chairs and sitting furniture, furniture for children and youngsters, satchels, bicycles, bed systems, car seats, shoes, sports equipment etc.

More information about the AGR, the seal of approval and tested products together with a list of trained, certified retailers can be found at www.agr-ev.de