We can think of scar tissue as similar to drywall putty. When tissue experiences trauma, the body repairs the area by forming sticky connective tissue throughout the wounded areas. Scar tissue, once formed, is as strong as, if not stronger than, the original tissue.

Without appropriate movement, friction and influence, however, scar tissue can sometimes disrupt how the body moves around it. This is why I encourage those who have had surgery or wounds to receive hands-on support, through massage around potential scar sites, as soon as the incisions or wounds heal over. This approach, alongside movement and self-massage, can help a scar heal optimally and maintain a full range of motion in the area.

Hands-on support can even help rehabilitate long-term scars. Both anecdotally and in research, manual work performed over scar sites has been shown to reduce pain and tension, support digestion and improve stress management. Abdominal scars can affect digestive system function, impact other organs, restrict circulation and influence how our nervous system perceives its environment — all factors that contribute to our overall stress levels.

Self-massage can be a powerful tool for scar tissue management and rehabilitation. Here are some effective techniques you can perform at home.

First things first

Only begin scar massage after your wound has fully closed and any scabs have naturally fallen off. If you’ve had surgery, consult with your healthcare provider before starting self-massage, typically around two to three weeks post-operation.

Wash your hands thoroughly before touching your scar. Apply a small amount of natural oil (coconut, olive, vitamin E) to reduce friction. Find a comfortable position where you can easily access your scar. Begin with light pressure, gradually increasing as comfort allows. Play with a variation of the below techniques, pausing or moving slowly if you feel any tension elsewhere in your body.

• Circular motions: Using your fingertips, make small circular movements around and directly on the scar. Move in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions for two to three minutes.
• Pulling/stretching: Gently pull the skin on either side of the scar away from the centre line. Hold for 30 seconds, then release. Repeat three to five times.
• Friction technique: Place two fingers on the scar and move the skin back and forth perpendicular to the scar line. This helps break up adhesions beneath.

It is normal for scar work to sometimes be accompanied by emotions, as well as memories of the original trauma. Many people even report an apprehension or anxiety around touching their own scars. Create space for yourself to notice and breathe with any emotional or physiological changes in sensation that you might notice throughout your work with your scar — or, if working on yourself feels overwhelming, seek professional support for hands-on care.

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But while Canadian farms are becoming safer, hazards still exist, and it’s clear that there is still a long way to go with farm safety — particularly when it comes to children and youth.

The latest Canadian Agricultural Injury Reporting (CAIR) data highlights some concerning statistics about child and youth deaths related to agriculture. CAIR is the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association’s national surveillance program, coordinated by the Injury Prevention Centre at the University of Alberta.

According to CAIR data, from 1990 to 2020, a staggering 435 children and youth lost their lives due to agriculture-related incidents, with children ages one to four having the highest number of deaths of those under age 19.

Farms and ranches are not just workplaces, but also areas where people live and play. As a result, while other industries see occupational injury victims almost exclusively in the 18- to 65-year-old range, children sadly account for a significant number of fatalities in agriculture.

What’s contributing to so many agriculture-related fatalities among children and youth? According to the CAIR data, the majority (65 per cent) of children and youth deaths were caused by machinery, and most of those incidents involved a tractor. Runovers accounted for 32 per cent of child and youth deaths, followed by rollovers (15 per cent) and drownings (11 per cent). However, the second-largest category for mechanisms of injury — “other” — underscores the various hazards on the farm that can cause injury.

Unsurprisingly, the leading cause of death differs when looking at the unique age groups. The CAIR report indicates runovers are the leading cause of fatal injury for children under the age of nine, followed by drownings. In contrast, rollovers are the leading cause of death for youths aged 10 to 19.

Most of these victims (67 per cent) were not working at the time of the tragic incident but were in the area of farm work. One in three (65 per cent) of victims was the child of the owner/operator of the farm, with visiting children/youths representing 10 per cent of victims, followed by hired workers at nine per cent.

It’s important to keep in mind that these statistics are more than just numbers. They’re a sobering reminder of the need to protect the well-being of kids on the farm.

What can you do to keep kids safe on the farm? While farm kids are known for growing up quickly, because of the environment they are brought up in, remember that they’re still kids. So, ensure any tasks you give kids on the farm are age-appropriate. While kids might be living and playing on the farm, it’s also a workplace with plenty of hazards. Take time to create a designated play area, put barriers where possible around areas kids shouldn’t access (such as bodies of water or heights), and always provide adequate supervision.

Remember to discuss safety regularly with your kids, making it a routine part of conversations, and lead by example by demonstrating safe practices in your own actions.

Together, we can create a safer, more sustainable, and vibrant future for agriculture, and make these troubling statistics a thing of the past.

A new campaign

Kids FarmSafe Week is a new public awareness campaign hosted by the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association with the aim of promoting the safety and wellness of children and youth on Canadian farms.

For its inaugural year, the campaign takes place May 13-19, 2024 and is presented by BASF Canada Agricultural Solutions. More information can be found online.

— Article courtesy of the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association, a national, non-profit organization dedicated to improving the health and safety of farmers, their families and agricultural workers. CASA is funded in part by the Government of Canada under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal, provincial and territorial initiative. For more information, visit the CASA web site, find us on Facebook or LinkedIn, or follow us on X @planfarmsafety.

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The passage of time does often come with a regression of things like balance, body awareness and control. Degeneration of joint structures, soft tissue and neurological ability physically are normal parts of aging, however, the rate of that degeneration can often be determined by a “use it or lose it” scale. The body is a master at adapting to its environments, and will keep prioritizing the abilities we need (and use) the most. Learning early what areas will help you stay active and spry, no matter your age, can help prevent degeneration to an extent that is hazardous to your physical ability and quality of life.

While fall prevention-based movements can be utilized by any age group, I begin recommending them to anyone over the age of 30 who is not otherwise actively engaging in whole-body, intentional movement. Intentional movement is movement that you are focusing in on as a specific task, and not movement that you do for routine work or chores where your mind might be on other things. Exercise is one form of intentional movement, but movement can be made intentional even if it isn’t in the context of a workout or time spent at the gym.

Some of the key areas to easily pay attention to when it comes to preventing trips and falls, start in the lower body — specifically the feet! Many falls start because we catch our foot on a raised surface, or lose our balance on uneven footing. Something as simple as a crack in the sidewalk, or thick carpet can be the precursor for a severe fall. If we increase our awareness to how our feet are meeting various surfaces, this can decrease the chance those surfaces catch us off guard.

One of the first things many people begin to lose is the ability to flex the ankle away from the ground. We also tend to have very little ability to move our toes independently from the foot, due to the amount of time we spend in shoes. These two things combined, lead to many people walking with the toes and forefoot closer to the ground, and therefore at a higher risk of catching the front or outside of their foot on various surfaces.

Try these four exercises on a routine basis to keep your ankle and foot moving. They take no more than a few minutes a day, and can prevent falls from impacting your stride. As a bonus, these exercises are also great for preventing and treating things like plantar fasciitis, fallen arches and flat feet. Do all these exercises without shoes on, in a safe environment, to build your awareness of the foot and its role in balance and gait.

• Slow-motion foot taps: Sit comfortably with your foot fully resting on the ground. Slowly raise your foot off the ground (keeping your heel planted). Ensure that you lift from the middle of your foot (so that your pinky toe and big toe raise levelly). Take about three to four seconds to raise up, and then slowly lower back to the ground. Do one foot and then the other foot. Repeat for 10 rounds per sides, a few times each day. Great warm-up prior to walks or runs!
• Toe curls: Sit comfortably with the feet resting on the ground. Keeping the foot on the ground, curl your toes into the ground. You could place a towel under your foot (spread out) and curl the toes into the towel to drag it in towards the foot. Curl the toes in and out 10 times. If using a towel, curl the towel in for 10 curls, then practise pressing it back out again using the toes (uncurling). You may feel like your arch of the foot muscles are working to do this; this is a good thing. Repeat daily, a few rounds where possible!
• Tandem walking: Take a step forwards placing one foot directly in front of the other (heel to toe). Walk forwards for 10 to 20 steps, stacking the feet as you go. Challenge yourself to look forwards (not at your feet) while doing this, and as an additional challenge walk backwards in this way to your starting point. Repeat daily, a few rounds where possible!
• Tiptoe walking: For 10 to 20 steps, walk as high as you can on your tiptoes. Work to keep your weight in the centre of the forefoot, and not more to the outside or inside edge of your foot as you walk. Try to walk in a straight line, sideways, and backwards like this. Challenge yourself to keep eyes up and looking ahead. Repeat daily, a few rounds where possible!

If falling is an issue for you, or you’re noticing a decrease in your balance ability, stability or motor awareness, it is important that you seek professional guidance to ensure the right plan of action to keep you moving sustainably, no matter your age. If you have pain that hasn’t changed over a few weeks or has occurred suddenly, please seek medical guidance before using these exercises as a regular tool.

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