Arthritis and Agriculture — Emily Cope, Communications Director, Western PA

Jumping on and off tractors, milking cows, bailing hay, climbing grain bins, using machinery and harvesting vegetables. It’s just an ordinary day, in the life of a farmer. With these kinds of not-so-joint-friendly daily activities it’s no wonder approximately one-third of all adult farm and ranch operators are affected by arthritis. And being that these tasks (ones that require strength and mobility, which are lessened by the affects of arthritis) are crucial to their livelihood it can make living with arthritis especially challenging for the agricultural community.

But there is hope for agricultural workers with arthritis. While there is no cure, medication, lifestyle adjustments and pain management techniques can help greatly.

This video offers easy tips on how farmers and ranchers can protect their joints:

Work simplification can help lessen arthritis pain:

• When possible use labor saving devices or easy-grip tools.
• Alternate difficult jobs with easier ones. Switching between heavy and light tasks spreads your limited energy over a longer period of time.
• When possible sit while you work to take the weight off your joints.

 

Agriculture is an extremely stressful industry. Farmers worry about everything from market prices to unforeseen weather. Stress reduction is crucial in arthritis pain management.

Here are some suggestions for coping with stress:

• Do away with those things that aren’t really necessary; instead, try doing a few things well.
• Share your problems or concerns with family members or friends.
• Keep in mind that some things are out of your control (the weather).
• Ask for help.
• Join a support group.

For more information on Arthritis and Agriculture please visit:

           

http://www.arthritis-ag.org/default.aspx

http://www.agrability.org/

Or contact Amber Wolfe, AgrAbility Project Coordinator for the Arthritis Foundation Indiana Office at awolfe@arthritis.org or 1-800-783-2342.

Stay well,

Emily Cope
Communications Director
Arthritis Foundation, WPA Chapter

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