Fiskars® garden tools earn Arthritis Foundation’s prestigious Ease-of-Use Commendation
Sauk City, WI – Good news for gardeners who have arthritis: The Arthritis Foundation has awarded its sought-after Ease-of-Use Commendation to eight Fiskars garden tools whose innovative designs magnify cutting power and reduce hand stress – enabling arthritis sufferers to continue to pursue their occupation or enjoy a favorite pastime.
The twelve Fiskars tools, all designed with patented PowerGear® technology, include unique features like a special gearing mechanism that multiplies cutting force, cushioned handles to reduce pressure on joints, and even a handle the rolls to follow the hand’s natural clenching motion. Tools that have received the commendation include: PowerGear Bypass Pruner (7936 and 7937), PowerGear Anvil Pruner (7941), PowerGear Anvil Lopper (7972), PowerGear Bypass Lopper (9625 and 9619), PowerGear Bypass Lopper (9627), PowerGear Hedge Shears (9189), PowerGear 18” Anvil Lopper (9618), PowerGear 27” Anvil Lopper (9631), PowerGear 27” Bypass Lopper (9632), and PowerGear 25” Bypass Lopper (9136).
The Arthritis Foundation Ease-of-Use program encourages manufacturers to design user-friendly products and packaging. The rigorous approval process includes evaluation by a team of scientists who assess each product in the laboratory, as well as a panel of people with moderate to severe arthritis who put the products to practical use.
“Most so-called ergonomic tools offer nothing more than a reshaped handle with a little extra padding – but handles are actually a very small part of the equation,” explains Olavi Lindén, Director of New Product Development for Fiskars Garden & Outdoor Living. “Power and weight are what makes a truly ergonomic tool. More power means you can make cuts without pain, injury or over-exertion. Lightweight, extra-long handles give you more leverage and encourage healthy posture, which helps prevent back pain.
“It’s great to have our designs validated by these commendations,” Lindén adds, “but the real reward is seeing the excitement in the eyes of a person who picks up one of our tools, tries it, and realizes that they’ve got the power to keep doing the things they love to do.”
Arthritis is one of the most prevalent chronic health problems and the nation’s leading cause of disability among Americans over age 15. It limits everyday activities such as walking, dressing and bathing for more than 46 million Americans.
