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 Ergonomic
Garden Tools – The Most
Common Types and What To
Consider When Purchasing
By Dan Fenstemaker,
Inventor of the Original
INTELETOOL
There are many different
types of ergonomic
garden tools. This
article will cover a few
of the most common
ergonomic garden tools
available, and will also
mention a few things to
look for when shopping
for the tool that’s
right for you.
Ergonomic Hand Garden
Tools
In the smaller range of
ergonomic hand tools,
the most common design
trait is a curved
handle. I’ve seen this
design also called a
radial handle.
Traditional hand
gardening tools force
you to strain the angle
of your wrist downward
as you grip and push the
tool into the soil.
Ergonomic garden tools
have a curved handle
that looks like a pistol
grip. This allows you to
keep your wrist straight
and in-line with your
forearm. You than can
make a much stronger
fist and put more weight
and strength into the
tool without straining
the joints or tendons of
your wrist.
Another innovative
design uses a straight
handle shaft, about 12
inches long, that straps
securely to your
forearm, just below your
elbow, and then uses a
perpendicular grip
handle at the level of
your hand that you can
grasp. This is a great
design for individuals
that have some level of
disability or suffer
from arthritis, because
you can make use of the
strength of your entire
arm, distributing the
weight and force
throughout, instead of
on your wrist and hand.
You will also
significantly increase
the force of work you
can exert on the garden
tool.
Comfortable and
Shock-Resistant Padded
Handles and Grips
Another common feature
in both hand-sized tools
and full length tools is
padding. Padding allows
you to form a tighter
grip, because it is
flexible, and it is much
more comfortable to use
and reduces the chances
of blisters. Padded
handles also absorb some
of the shock or
vibrations associated
with some of the
movements you make with
garden tools, which
helps to prevent pain
and damage to your
hands, wrists, and
elbows.
For instance, I remember
using a flat bar to pull
up tile that had very
strong adhesive. This is
not a gardening example,
but one that makes a
good point.
I was hammering one end
of the flat bar to get
under the edges and to
separate the adhesive,
and using my other hand
to hold the bar in
place. Well, first, a
larger tool would have
been the much better
choice, and a tool with
thick, comfortable
padding would have
reduced much of the
energy traveling into my
hands and wrists. I
remember feeling like I
had sprained my wrist
after about one hour’s
work. This could, and
should, have been
avoided with the use of
a much better ergonomic
tool.
Curved and
Telescoping Full Length
Handles
Two common designs for
full length tools are
curved handles, and
handles that are
length-adjustable
through telescoping
segments. One common
design looks like an “S”
and it is used on snow
shovels and scoop
shovels. The “S” shaped
handle allows you to
lift and push more
easily, and it
significantly reduces
lower back strain.
Telescoping handles
allow you to adjust the
length for the type of
work you are doing or
for the height of the
user. Again, these help
in reducing lower back
strain and can also
reduce fatigue in your
arm muscles.
What to Look For
There are three things
to look for when
purchasing an ergonomic
garden tool: strength,
weight, and quality
construction.
1. Strength
Both the handle and tool
head should be strong.
Some manufacturers use a
lightweight steel shaft
that is coated. Others
will use a professional
grade fiberglass that is
both lightweight and
strong. Strength and
weight are key to good
quality ergonomic garden
tools.
2. Weight
As just mentioned,
weight is an important
factor. There are
designs that are both
durable and very strong,
but also light weight.
You do not want to work
with a heavy tool.
Repetitive movements
over a period of time
will bring more fatigue
and increase chances of
injury if you use a
heavy tool.
3. Quality
Construction
Buying an 89 cent, two
liter bottle of
off-brand soda may be a
good idea, but buying
inexpensive, off-brand
ergonomic garden tools
is usually not. Cheap
metals, flimsy tool
attachments, weak
handles, etc., are
factors you need to stay
away from. Pay for high
quality and life-long
warranties, and you will
use your tools for
years.
---
Dan Fenstemaker is an
ergonomic garden tools expert. For more great
information on
ergonomic garden tools, visit
http://www.inteletool.com. |
