Tired, upset, sick bearded man, worker having neck and back pain, after work in warehouse, copy space. Concept of health care, treatment

Gentle treatments for pain in the neck

Fit to Farm: Built-up tensions come compliments of the season

Heading toward year-end, people unknowingly tense up against the cold and busyness, causing neck pain that can often be treated with appropriate support and gentle mobility, athletic therapist Kathlyn Hossack says.

Farmer walking with his dog in a grassy field on an early morning in summer

What’s the best form of exercise?

Fit to Farm: We benefit from some form of resistance training at all levels of our biology, through our daily chores or otherwise

For farmers at any season of life, it’s more important to find ways of exercising that feel practical and attainable, rather than force yourself through some form of exercise that simply doesn’t fit or feel good, athletic therapist Kathlyn Hossack writes.


Post-Surgical Skin Stitches Close-Up on Healing Wound with Bruising. Kateryna Tarasenko/iStock/Getty Images

The issue with scar tissue

Fit to Farm: Left to form unattended, a scar may inhibit your range of motion

Without a healthy amount of movement, friction and influence during the healing process, scar tissue may later disrupt how the body moves around it, so maintenance is needed as soon as an incision or wound heals over, Kathlyn Hossack writes.

Man breathing fresh air near the mountains

Simple ways to relieve tension

Fit to Farm: Expectations of stress tee up the body’s tension response — which then sometimes sticks around longer than we need

Farmers and farm workers will often feel tension in their muscles, whether it’s from physical exertion, stress, or even changes in the weather — and treatment of tension can start simple at home.


hole in blue sock Larisa Stefanuyk/iStock/Getty Images

Seasons change, fluids retain

Fit to Farm: Unlike blood, your lymphatic fluids could use your help to overcome gravity

Most of us experience a bit of extra fluid retention occasionally, as “puffiness” in our lower bodies, when weather changes. Gravity naturally keeps lymph fluid down, but gentle movement can help keep it flowing properly.

Medical doctor and massage therapist. Miragest/iStock/Getty Images 2177642786

When pain literally gets on your nerves

Fit to Farm: This kind of pain gets around within the body, so just treating the local area won’t solve the problem

All pain links back to our nerves, but our nerves themselves can also become irritated due to inflammation, immune system activation, physical or emotional trauma and/or fatigue.



Imagine breathing in via the feet or seat, up the body and down the body, out via the same anchor point.

In the present tense

Fit to Farm: Stretching isn’t necessarily the answer for tight muscles

Tension is a precursor to conditions such as anxiety, pain, sleep issues and many other health complaints — and is an important early symptom to acknowledge and for which to seek support.



Pelvic rocking (yoga mat optional).

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.