Back Pain
Common back pain is another typical problem for farmers. Keep in mind; those long hours on the same seat, riding in heavy machinery that constantly emit vibrations, are hard on your body, especially your back. Everyone understands that once you hurt your back, the tiresome days of building fence or hauling hay nearly bring you to tears because of the pain you have to work through. No one wants to work through their pain, but too many farmers are forced to because it is their livelihood. Unfortunately, this can lead to serious injury that is permanently impairing. Today, back pain is the “sixth most expensive health care condition in the U.S. and is currently the “leading cause of work limitations ages 18 to 64.” Once again researchers believe that “repetition and long-term poor posture are major contributors to back pain and injury.” As the subject of pain is so broad, so are the conditions that back pain can bring. As stated by the National Agricultural Safety Database, “Back pain can often lead to other (secondary) limitations or challenges when standing, sitting, reaching, lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, climbing, bending, crawling, kneeling, etc.” Typical symptoms of discomfort and chronic soreness arise with lower back pain. Like some forms of minor osteoarthritis, it can be easily remedied from home (e.g. ice packs, heating elements, stretching). Other measures of prevention include: proper posture, proper lifting techniques, decreased movement from side-to-side while lifting, using a “buddy system” in strenuous workloads, and adequate rest in between large amounts of physical labor.
