Being cold isn't why you get a cold. But it is true that cold weather makes it easier to catch respiratory viruses such as the cold and flu. Research also shows that lower temperatures are associated with higher COVID-19 rates.
Tag Archives health
COMMENT: Why winter makes you more vulnerable to colds – a public health nurse explains the science behind the season
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
Let your feet flex and feel the floor
Fit to Farm: While necessary, shoes do limit how your feet's natural structures can work
Have you been told you have fallen arches or flat feet? A common misconception is that our foot posture is unchangeable or uncontrollable. Just like any other part of the body, there is quite a lot we can do to support the physical health and mobility in our feet. Many clients that I meet have […] Read more
Know your physical and emotional limits for a safer, more productive farm
It’s often said that farmers will stop at nothing to get the work done. But the long days, strenuous manual labour and constant challenges that come with farming can easily take a physical and mental toll. That’s why it’s crucial for farmers to be aware of their limitations. Ignoring limitations can heighten the risk of […] Read more
Movements for healthy shoulders
Proper breathing mechanics and exercise help keep the upper spine loose
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 […] Read more
Sciatica, the proverbial pain in the butt
Overcoming it means paying attention to how you move and how you face stress
A common complaint I see in my clinic is sciatica. Sciatica can be a blanket diagnosis for pain in the hip, buttocks and down the leg. It’s labelled “sciatica” because often the sciatic nerve — a nerve that exits at the base of your spine and travels down the back of your legs, can be […] Read more
Being an emotionally strong farm parent
Strong-willed and independent people might consider a self-coaching approach
Tis the season of farm meetings, where the speakers will talk about business and “keeping the emotion” out of business using data to make concrete decisions. I don’t debate this approach for grain marketing, but I highly doubt stuffing emotions on the farm creates clarity of expectations or happy outcomes. Recently I met Carolyn Stern, […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
