Many hand issues actually originate in the tissues higher up in the arm. To keep our hands functioning well, we need to care for our shoulders and neck too.
Tag Archives Fit to Farm
Build strength to prevent hand pain
Fit to Farm: Pain in the hands is a common problem — but don’t write it off as normal
Make moves against anxiety
Fit to Farm: The nervous energy our bodies generate needs to go somewhere
Anxiety is something all of us experience, to varying degrees, at some point or another. It can come with many different symptoms. Some of us tend to experience anxiety in our minds; some experience it more in their chests and cardiovascular systems; others experience it in the digestive system. Some lucky individuals experience all of […] Read more
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
Train your body to overcome winter blues
Fit to Farm: People try to struggle against their biology in the cold and dark
For those of us who stay in Canada for the winter, seasonal shifts in light, weather and nutrition often take a toll. Many Canadians notice changes in their overall wellbeing through the winter months, both physically and mentally. Part of this shift in our overall quality of well-being in the winter likely comes from our […] Read more
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
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
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
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
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
Easing the strain of sitting
Fit to Farm: Joints in the spine can get compressed when you have to sit for long periods
A common complaint that comes along with the farm lifestyle and career is back pain. Non-specific low back pain — meaning the pain has begun with no clear incidence and doesn’t have one clear cause — makes up over 80 per cent of back pain complaints. In my line of work, often it isn’t as […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
