Article: Inside & Out
Turn Lawn Care Into A Health & Wellbeing Exercise
You probably can sympathise with the saying: ‘No pain, no gain’ when you are undertaking your health and fitness regime…, but in the backyard? Yet a new consumer study reveals that mowing the lawn can result in a variety of physical ailments. About a third of those polled in the survey, reported they have a sore back after they mow, while others reported problems with shoulders, arms, hands, legs or feet.
According to Rex Fifield, owner/operator of Whangarei based Stihl shop, the mower you use can make a big difference in how your body feels after mowing. “The right kind of mower helps people benefit from the aerobic exercise of lawn work without unnecessary strains,” he says. “Equipment should adjust to the individual to avoid sore muscles or joints.”
Lawnmowers manufacturers use “experiential” research to study how homeowners actually use lawn mowers in their gardens. It is documented how people exert energy and strain their bodies while mowing, and develop new features to avoid muscle or joint injury. The research has resulted in improvements to make mowing easier, such as adjustable handles, ergonomic grips, reduced mower weight and easy-turn wheels. “People can avoid pain if they use a mower that doesn’t require excessive force to operate and adjusts to their individual needs,” Rex Fifield adds.
With All The Options Available, How Do You Know Which Mower Is Right For You?
It just takes a trip to the professionals and they will see you right. But before you do this it would be recommended you make note of a few important details that will assist in getting the correct personalised advice.
The information such as whom will be doing most of the lawn care, the size of your lawn, and what kind of terrain you’ll be mowing. Once these questions and answers are established, your professional lawnmower specialist will be able to let you know about features that match your particular needs, from a self-propel system that automatically adjusts to your walking speed to a bag you can empty with just one hand.
With the right equipment, the backyard can be a satisfying place for exercise and enjoyment. Mowing is “light” exercise, a recommended type of aerobic activity that doesn’t cause strain when done properly with a mower that fits your body. And moderate exercise, including mowing, helps you stimulate your heart rate, an important factor in maintaining a healthier heart. You can burn about 100 calories for every 13 minutes you’re walking behind your mower. People should view mowing and gardening as components of an exercise program. “Aerobic gardening” will make you look at garden work from a completely different perspective; it’s a great opportunity to get fit. Unless you have a huge lawn area to mow, we suggests using a walk-behind mower instead of a rider to maximize exercise.
Garden work can become healthy exercise if you generate aerobic activity that avoids pains and strains by using equipment that works with your body – not against it.
LAWN MOWING - MADE EASY TIPS
Who knew one of the chores of the growing season would be a wonderful opportunity to claim some “alone time” in the backyard? With easy-to-use mowers, it’s no chore – it’s a chance to escape other worries and experience Zen-like solitude. Here are some simple ways to use your mower and revel in the moment:
• Mulch It – Don’t Bag It. With an easy mulch and cutting system, there’s no need to bag your grass. The system helps mince and hide the clippings in the lawn, resulting in a great looking lawn.
• Let The Mower Do The Work. Lawn mowing isn’t a track meet. With a good transmission, you have at hand infinite mowing speeds of up to 6km per hour. Slight pressure applied to the handle automatically adjusts its speed to match yours.
• Get A Grip. The comfort and ergonomic design of handles on some lawnmower models eliminates pinching and discomfort – and who couldn’t use a little less of both?
• Light On Its Feet. Choose a mower that is light in weight and perfectly balanced to enhance manoeuvrability. That means less effort for you whether you are pushing, turning, going up a hill, manoeuvring around landscaping or if you find yourself mowing your neighbour’s lawn, too.
