Among the common injuries I see farmers for, shoulder complaints fall into the top tier. The shoulder can cause grief for many reasons, but almost all of those reasons have common roots. Anatomically the shoulder is a fairly shallow joint, especially when compared to deep ball-and-socket joints like the hip. For a shallow joint it […] Read more
If you have shoulder pain you’re not alone
Fit to Farm: This is one of the most common complaints experienced by farmers, and here’s why
Nagging foot pain? You may be experiencing plantar fasciitis
Fit to Farm: Try these exercises to help relieve pain that is often worse first thing in the morning
Pain with the first few steps in the morning? Pain during walking right in your arch or heel of the foot? Doesn’t seem to give up, no matter what you try? You might be experiencing the all-too-common complaint of plantar fasciitis. I see an increase in plantar fasciitis during seasonal shifts each year, whether it’s […] Read more
Don’t just push through pain
Fit to Farm: Pain is the body’s way of telling you something is not right
Farmers have a culture of pushing through pain. What many fail to realize is that pain is generally not a beneficial thing to push through in terms of longevity in our health and performance. If we are in pain and negatively stressed, we’re more likely to experience burnout, injuries, illnesses, and lower adherence to exercise […] Read more
These are stressful times
Fit to Farm: Dealing with stress can cause many people to regularly experience anxiety and pain
We live in a stressful world. It’s no surprise that many of us are dealing with high levels of anxiety, stress and pain on a regular basis. Often we are unaware of how much just our “normal” days affect our primal nervous systems — to the point where we consider the side-effects of our lifestyles […] Read more
Can stress cause pain?
Fit to Farm: Whether it’s the stress of everyday living or an unexpected stressor there is usually an effect
I cannot count how many times a client has walked in my door telling me that they have aches and pains, and they’re SURE that it’s related to stress elsewhere in their lives. Often they say this in somewhat of a dismissive tone, acknowledging that stress is (sometimes) an unavoidable factor in life and that […] Read more
Don’t just carry on if you’re experiencing pain
Fit to Farm: This can lead to burnout, injuries, illness, and lower stress tolerance
I see all sorts of complaints in the clinic, ranging from sore backs, tense shoulders, headaches, and acute injuries. When we’re going through a busy time, it’s important to keep in mind some simple tools to help prevent, and alleviate, the symptoms of busyness. Farmers have a culture of pushing through pain, but pain is […] Read more
How breathing can help encourage mindfulness
Fit to Farm: Incorporating this into the day could help with health, mental and physical performance
The word “mindfulness” has been floating around a lot in recent years, but I still come across many individuals who have yet to be introduced to the basics of mindfulness. Being mindful isn’t necessarily an exercise you can do three sets of 10 a day and expect immediate change — but similar to how I […] Read more
Exercises to help prevent shoulder tension
Pain between the shoulder blades is a common complaint from farmers
Farmers often come to me complaining of pain and fatigue between the shoulder blades. This is an especially important area for humans as the shoulders are the core of our arms, in a sense. It’s not surprising that they are a common area of complaint, just as the low back is a common area of complaint when our […] Read more
Here’s some tips to help prevent muscle tension
Fit to Farm: Farming includes long hours spent on equipment but pain and discomfort shouldn’t be a normal side-effect
Farming is an industry where scheduling is ruled by the seeds we sow, the animals we raise, and the people we feed. While many would expect that a certain level of fatigue and tension would accompany the busy seasons, there’s more to it than that. Tension that causes discomfort or pain and fatigue are signs […] Read more
Do you suffer from constant pain?
Pain is the body’s way of saying something is wrong. Don’t just stifle it
A client messaged me today — a local farmer who had started seeing me as a personal trainer. Routinely complaining about his shoulder pain during sessions, I suggested we focus on rehabbing his pain first, but was met with resistance as he had already “tried more than six therapists and nothing had worked.” I left […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
