hot water bottle

At-home remedies for arthritis pain

Fit to Farm: It only seems weird to use heat and warmth to reduce inflammation in your joints

Joint pain and pain related to arthritis are common occurrences heading into our colder months here in Canada. With extreme and frequent changes in temperature and air pressure, many of us experience increased achiness, stiffness and inflammation. Here are a few at-home ideas to try this winter to hopefully take the edge off some of […] Read more

Intentionally slowing down your usual simple routine movements can help calm your nervous system and dial down a pain response.

Non-surgical options to manage pain

Fit to Farm: Don’t just ignore pain or the clues to its causes

As an athletic therapist, I often work with individuals faced with managing painful conditions in the short and long term. Many conditions or injuries do require surgery to repair underlying issues. That said, many pain-related symptoms do not require surgical intervention to alleviate. Pain and other uncomfortable sensations occur for many reasons, often entirely unrelated […] Read more


As farmers we need to be able to manage our emotional states. For some, connecting with nature out in our fields and pastures is our path toward greater emotional clarity.

Find paths out of distress, depression, disconnection

What keeps you centred and grounded? Observe and pay attention at those times

Patricia Morgan is a dynamic force for change and my good friend. She’s authored a new award-winning book, Return to Center: Simple Strategies to Navigate Distress, Depression and Disconnection. As farm families brace for or embrace the winter season, I thought we all should be reminded of good practical tools to be emotionally strong and […] Read more

Many farmers have set up multiple barriers against grain theft and are also advised to reduce the number of entry points to their grain storage area.

More heft against theft

What’s new in enforcement and community initiatives? And what are the best ways to ensure you’re not a victim?

Prairie provincial leaders have gotten the message. They’ve listened to farmers and their neighbours in rural areas and are putting more resources and new strategies in place to reduce theft and other crimes. At the same time, farmers have taken the initiative to prevent theft through increased vigilance and investments in cameras, lighting and more. […] Read more


Gently moving your skin, and the surgical scar itself, will help you make sure scar tissue doesn’t impede connective tissues and soft tissues.

Recovering from joint replacement surgery

Fit to Farm: Many people wait too long to begin rehabilitation afterward

Last issue I wrote about the preparation and potential “pre-hab” strategies I recommend to individuals waiting or pursuing a joint replacement surgery. Now it’s time to explore what to do after a joint replacement to support optimal recovery. Regardless of which area has been replaced or operated on, joint replacement surgeries are often relatively quick […] Read more

Gentle yoga practices can help maintain whole-body movement and can be adjusted to avoid discomfort.

How to prepare for joint replacement surgery

Fit to Farm: 'Pre-hab' can help your body recover more quickly

Whether due to trauma or degenerative conditions such as osteoarthritis, joint replacement procedures are common options for managing movement limitations and pain. Joint replacement surgeries are among the most common procedures for which I help clients prepare and recover. The most common joints to replace are knees and hips, often from long-term degeneration. In these […] Read more


Every farmer’s mechanical skill set, particularly at busy times of the year, should include knowing when he or she needs to call in the professional.

Repairing farm equipment safely

Ag Safety: Maintenance and repair requirements are laid out with the machine operator's safety in mind

Maintenance and repairs are routine tasks on farms. Equipment breaks down, and machinery requires regular upkeep; it’s just a regular part of farming. Proper knowledge, information and tools are crucial for carrying out maintenance and repairs effectively and safely. Bill C-244, an amendment to the federal Copyright Act, allows Canadians access to vehicle, machinery and […] Read more

To be clear, practices such as the ones outlined in this space are not meant to replace appropriate rest and recovery.

To avoid fatigue, breathe

Fit to Farm: Deliberate breath can help influence energy levels, focus and level of alertness

As a new season approaches, so too do long hours of driving for many farmers. One problem that presents when we deal with prolonged periods of driving, whether in the field or on the highway, is fatigue. The agriculture industries are rife with long hours at various tasks and fatigue is common, posing a dangerous […] Read more


Using a life-sized mannequin and actual grain, CASA shows how a person amounts to just a few bushels relative to the weight of the grain flowing around them.

Successful grain rescue shows value of training, awareness

Program demonstrates ‘reality and severity’ of grain entrapment

Grain entrapments don’t often have happy endings. Fortunately, that wasn’t the case for a grain entrapment on Feb. 9 in east-central Alberta. Chris Krushel, fire chief for the Edgerton Emergency Services Department, says a man had entered a grain bin to clean it when he became caught in the grain. Thankfully, another person was present […] Read more

carpal tunnel exercises

How to treat carpal tunnel at home

Fit to Farm: Symptoms begin when connective tissue compresses tendons and nerves in an already-busy area

Carpal tunnel is a condition that can affect anyone, anytime, though it’s especially common in those who work with their hands and do manual labour. The carpal tunnel is an anatomical term for the path the tendons in the forearm and wrist take underneath a bridge of connective tissue in the wrist moving into the […] Read more