While quite different from the dangers posed by farm machinery, hazards such as loud noise or sun exposure require the same proactive attention, the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association says.
Tag Archives Farmer health
Health hazards are often overlooked risks on the farm
Aspects of the farming environment can pile up against your health over time, without proper protections
Understanding shoulder pain
Fit to Farm: If we don’t move in ways that keep the joint stable, our bodies will tense up to hold it in place
Posture, breathing patterns and body maintenance all affect your risk of shoulder pain, one of the most common complaints we see in the clinic.
Maintain your pelvic floor function
Fit to Farm: These muscles help keep our posture and vital organs where they belong
An often-overlooked source of common complaints like back pain, hip pain and fatigue lies in the hard-to-access soft tissues of our pelvic floor — the soft tissues within the inner bowl of our pelvic bones.
Work on stability for your whole-body wellness
Fit to Farm: Practicing to improve your physical balance can be done simply at home
No matter your age or fitness level, your ability to stabilize yourself in various positions has been shown to have a major impact on your overall wellbeing and long-term health outcomes. Your body’s ability to stabilize also directly links to your capacity for joint mobility and tension levels in your tissues. Balance and stability are […] Read more
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
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
Tomatoes rise stronger from ashes
Also, bank on beans to boost beneficial bacteria in your bowel
Got a stove or fireplace where you burn wood only? Save those ashes and use them in this summer’s garden to grow some of the finest tomatoes ever. Already I can hear myself singing: “Oh it must be the tomatoes, maybe strawberries and homegrown potatoes, but I still think it must be tomatoes.” Those are […] Read more
Prevent winter injuries and illnesses
Getting creative with nutrition and maintaining restorative movements can help keep you healthy during the cold months
Winter is notorious for an increase in aches, pains, illnesses and injuries. Some of this stems from colder temperatures and less sunlight, which can take a toll on our bodies and minds even before hazardous conditions such as snow and ice take effect. We can’t control the weather, but there are a few things we […] Read more
Snuff out the winter sniffles
Some easy movements can help relieve sinus congestion
Winter is a season commonly associated with sniffles. Any way to get sinus relief is beneficial as we go through the coldest months. A common area of congestion is our sinus cavities, which take up space behind our cheekbones and brows. They are often a culprit behind headaches, facial pain, sniffly noses and sometimes even […] Read more
‘Why’ as the deep, burning mantra to keep going
It’s not meant to be crazy, it’s meant to build resilience to overcome the “hard”
To perform constantly and optimally in any passion — whether farming, running, or anything else — takes a deep understanding of the “why.” On the farm we often hear family, land and legacy as deep, value-based guides for “why” some choose life on a farm. For me, soil health and making an environmental contribution to […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
