The first warm spring days are the best chance for gardening fans to get their garden ready for the summer after the long winter's break. They want to mow and trim the lawn, cut the hedge, dig over the flower beds and get the bedding plants in. Often enough, the morning after a full day in the garden will bring a rude awakening with painful consequences following the unaccustomed exercise. The Campaign for Healthier Backs (AGR) explains the things to look out for to make sure that gardening won't lead to backache.
For many hobby gardeners, gardening is far more than the means to an end. The motivation to get out and do the gardening is more than just the eager anticipation of a well-tended garden, but is rather also an ideal opportunity to get some outdoor exercise while soaking up the sunshine. In addition, many people find that gardening offers a welcome balance to their everyday (working) life. But it also has its drawbacks: usually gardeners will try to achieve too much during their first day outside and overexert themselves in trying to get the lawn, flower beds and hedges in shape again after the winter in just a few hours. The movements involved in mowing, trimming, digging or cutting make a complete contrast to everyday routines and can put a strain on the back, muscles and joints. A combination of back-friendly behaviour and the right equipment can help to prevent gardening from becoming a painful experience.
Three golden tips for hobby gardeners
1. Do not lift and carry heavy loads. Break heavy weights down if you can: two small bags of compost are better than one large one, and use gardening implements (e.g. wheelbarrows) where possible.
2. Don't bend or at least don't bend constantly. If you need to lift something up, bend at your knees and carry heavy items close to your body - it's better for your back.
3. Make sure to keep your back straight, whatever you are doing. Bending your back and carrying loads that are too heavy will frequently result in backache on the next day.
The right equipment - that's what counts
Whether mowing and trimming the lawn or cutting the hedge, the right equipment is the key to pain-free gardening. A few important aspects will help you to distinguish an average equipment from top-quality, back-friendly gardening implements. The main criterion: it is the implement that must adapt to the user, his body size and way of working, not vice versa.
Lawnmower
The most frequent mistake people make when mowing the lawn is to bend over forwards. This is sure to cause backache, even with a small lawn. In addition, rigid handles and heavy manoeuvring often make lawn mowing a strain for the back. To avoid this, a back-friendly lawnmower certified by the Campaign for Healthier Backs (AGR) has to fulfil the following requirements, among others:
- The handle shafts must be adjustable in height so that the gardener doesn't have to bend over.
- Ergonomically shaped handles encourage back-friendly handling that is kind to the joints. The wrists can be held straight and not bent. The position of the hands on the mower can also be varied at will.
- The lawnmower must be easy to manoeuvre.
- All controls must be easily accessible and simple to use.
- The lawnmower must be light enough to carry, preferably held with both hands in front of the body.
- It must be easy to stow away.
The Rotak lawnmowers (electric and battery-driven) by Bosch fulfil all the criteria and have been awarded the AGR seal of approval.
Grass trimmer
Even the most effective lawnmower can't reach all the grass in every corner of the garden. A back-friendly grass trimmer is therefore an ideal additional implement. Trimming the grass in a bent or even kneeling position is now a thing of the past, as excellent grass cutters have a telescopic handle shaft for working in an upright posture at all times. They also naturally fulfil all current safety standards; they are designed with easily accessible controls, ergonomic handles and optional support wheels, and are light in weight. This is why the Bosch grass trimmers ART 23-18 LI, ART 23-18 LI+, ART 26-18 LI and ART 26-18 LI+ have also been awarded the seal of approval by the Campaign for Healthier Backs.
Hedgecutter
A hedge must be the most attractive privacy screen for gardening fans, and needs just as much tender care as every other part of the garden. Unfortunately, cutting the hedge also often puts a painful strain on the shoulders and back. This is because working above head height is very tiring for our muscles and causes cramp; a heavy hedgecutter that offers little handling flexibility makes the problem even worse. This really is not necessary, as proven by the Bosch hedgecutters AHS 65-34 and AHS 70-34. They are AGR certified, weigh less than 4 kilos but are still extremely powerful and can be held in a range of different positions. Variation in the handling helps to avoid one-sided overexertion; the non-slip handles have an ergonomic shape and are naturally spaced. The controls of the certified hedgecutter are in easy reach in every holding position. Another important point is that the hedgecutter is horizontally balanced when held at the front handle.
About the AGR
For 20 years the Campaign for Healthier Backs (AGR) has been working at enhancing public awareness for the significance of back-friendly conditions. Its "certified & recommended" seal of approval is an important decision-making aid for consumers. Particularly back-friendly everyday products can be certified with the seal of approval by independent medical bodies.
More information material can be found at http://www.agr-ev.de/en/
In brief
Working in your own garden has many positive aspects. It offers a welcome change from everyday routines, while exercising in the fresh air often makes you cheerful. However, at the start of the season the unaccustomed movements and strains of mowing and trimming the lawn or cutting the hedge can result in strained muscles and backache if exaggerated. Back-friendly and AGR-certified garden implements by Bosch are designed to minimise the burden on the back, muscles and joints so that you can enjoy gardening without backache.
For many hobby gardeners, gardening is far more than the means to an end. The motivation to get out and do the gardening is more than just the eager anticipation of a well-tended garden, but is rather also an ideal opportunity to get some outdoor exercise while soaking up the sunshine. In addition, many people find that gardening offers a welcome balance to their everyday (working) life. But it also has its drawbacks: usually gardeners will try to achieve too much during their first day outside and overexert themselves in trying to get the lawn, flower beds and hedges in shape again after the winter in just a few hours. The movements involved in mowing, trimming, digging or cutting make a complete contrast to everyday routines and can put a strain on the back, muscles and joints. A combination of back-friendly behaviour and the right equipment can help to prevent gardening from becoming a painful experience.
Three golden tips for hobby gardeners
1. Do not lift and carry heavy loads. Break heavy weights down if you can: two small bags of compost are better than one large one, and use gardening implements (e.g. wheelbarrows) where possible.
2. Don't bend or at least don't bend constantly. If you need to lift something up, bend at your knees and carry heavy items close to your body - it's better for your back.
3. Make sure to keep your back straight, whatever you are doing. Bending your back and carrying loads that are too heavy will frequently result in backache on the next day.
The right equipment - that's what counts
Whether mowing and trimming the lawn or cutting the hedge, the right equipment is the key to pain-free gardening. A few important aspects will help you to distinguish an average equipment from top-quality, back-friendly gardening implements. The main criterion: it is the implement that must adapt to the user, his body size and way of working, not vice versa.
Lawnmower
The most frequent mistake people make when mowing the lawn is to bend over forwards. This is sure to cause backache, even with a small lawn. In addition, rigid handles and heavy manoeuvring often make lawn mowing a strain for the back. To avoid this, a back-friendly lawnmower certified by the Campaign for Healthier Backs (AGR) has to fulfil the following requirements, among others:
- The handle shafts must be adjustable in height so that the gardener doesn't have to bend over.
- Ergonomically shaped handles encourage back-friendly handling that is kind to the joints. The wrists can be held straight and not bent. The position of the hands on the mower can also be varied at will.
- The lawnmower must be easy to manoeuvre.
- All controls must be easily accessible and simple to use.
- The lawnmower must be light enough to carry, preferably held with both hands in front of the body.
- It must be easy to stow away.
The Rotak lawnmowers (electric and battery-driven) by Bosch fulfil all the criteria and have been awarded the AGR seal of approval.
Grass trimmer
Even the most effective lawnmower can't reach all the grass in every corner of the garden. A back-friendly grass trimmer is therefore an ideal additional implement. Trimming the grass in a bent or even kneeling position is now a thing of the past, as excellent grass cutters have a telescopic handle shaft for working in an upright posture at all times. They also naturally fulfil all current safety standards; they are designed with easily accessible controls, ergonomic handles and optional support wheels, and are light in weight. This is why the Bosch grass trimmers ART 23-18 LI, ART 23-18 LI+, ART 26-18 LI and ART 26-18 LI+ have also been awarded the seal of approval by the Campaign for Healthier Backs.
Hedgecutter
A hedge must be the most attractive privacy screen for gardening fans, and needs just as much tender care as every other part of the garden. Unfortunately, cutting the hedge also often puts a painful strain on the shoulders and back. This is because working above head height is very tiring for our muscles and causes cramp; a heavy hedgecutter that offers little handling flexibility makes the problem even worse. This really is not necessary, as proven by the Bosch hedgecutters AHS 65-34 and AHS 70-34. They are AGR certified, weigh less than 4 kilos but are still extremely powerful and can be held in a range of different positions. Variation in the handling helps to avoid one-sided overexertion; the non-slip handles have an ergonomic shape and are naturally spaced. The controls of the certified hedgecutter are in easy reach in every holding position. Another important point is that the hedgecutter is horizontally balanced when held at the front handle.
About the AGR
For 20 years the Campaign for Healthier Backs (AGR) has been working at enhancing public awareness for the significance of back-friendly conditions. Its "certified & recommended" seal of approval is an important decision-making aid for consumers. Particularly back-friendly everyday products can be certified with the seal of approval by independent medical bodies.
More information material can be found at http://www.agr-ev.de/en/
In brief
Working in your own garden has many positive aspects. It offers a welcome change from everyday routines, while exercising in the fresh air often makes you cheerful. However, at the start of the season the unaccustomed movements and strains of mowing and trimming the lawn or cutting the hedge can result in strained muscles and backache if exaggerated. Back-friendly and AGR-certified garden implements by Bosch are designed to minimise the burden on the back, muscles and joints so that you can enjoy gardening without backache.
