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Prepared by Jill
Shelley and Michael Dennis
Kansas State University
When
a farm worker remains motionless in an overstretched or physiologically
unsuitable position for extended periods musculoskeletal problems
may occur. Ailments such as milker's knee or housemaid's knee
develop when injuries or friction occurs continuously to the
extremities, or there is constant pressure on a certain joint,
bone or group of bones.
Injuries
resulting from overexertion while lifting, pushing and pulling,
are among the most frequent types of farm related injuries.
These kind of injuries, along with accidental slips, trips
and falls can result in sprains, strains, hernias and lower
back pain.
Next
to headaches medical experts note that back problems are the
most common medical complaint. Back pains are also found to
be second only to the common cold as the greatest cause of
lost workdays. Back injuries alone cost American industry
$10-14 billion in workers compensation costs and about 100-million
lost workdays annually.
What
causes back problems? If ligaments and muscles are weak then
discs in the lower back can become weakened. With excessive
lifting, or a sudden fall a disc can rupture. Years of back
abuse, or with aging, the discs may simply wear out and you
may live with chronic pain for several years. However, back
pain caused by a muscle strain or a ligament sprain will normally
heal within a short time and may never cause further problems.
Poor
physical condition, poor posture, lack of exercise, and excessive
body weight contribute to the number and severity of sprains
and strains. Degeneration of the spine, due to aging, is also
a major contributor to lower back pain, but it is often misdiagnosed
as a sprain or strain.
Only
a small percentage of all serious back injuries are true sprains,
strains or fractures. Most are the result of degeneration
of the spine caused by aging and abuse. Most back-injuries,
however, occur in the 24 to 40 year old age group.
Back
injuries can be reduced by better physical conditioning, resulting
in stronger muscles to hold the spine in proper posture and
less body weight for the back to support. Doing farm work
or work around the house or yard you should try to maintain
proper posture. Prolonged sitting or standing, particularly
in forward, bent or slouched positions, can cause muscle fatigue,
which can lead to leg and back problems. Attempting to lift
or otherwise physically move one heavy object, or repetitive
moves of even light weight objects, are other causes of sprains
and strains as are slips, trips, falls and jumps.
One
way to reduce back problems is modifying your work practices.
Instead of lifting objects consider mechanical means. Heavy
items may be moved with forks or bucket on a tractor.
Changing
the size, shape and weight of containers or other materials
you carry may also help reduce back problems. This has already
been done by many companies that supply materials to farmers.
For example, feed, seed and fertilizer bags in the 80- or
100-pound size are no longer common.
Ways
to modify work practices so you will remain strong and healthy:
- Lift
objects carefully not in the quickest or easiest way.
- Lift,
push and pull with your legs, not your arms or back.
- When
changing direction while moving something, turn with your
feet, not your waist.
- Sit
in your farm vehicles or family car as you sit in a chair,
with your knees slightly above your hips. Also, provide
support for your lower back.
- When
walking maintain a straight posture and wear slip-resistant,
supportive shoes.
- When
carrying heavy objects, carry them close to you and avoid
carrying them in one hand.
- When
stepping down from a tractor, combine or load of hay, step
down backward, not forward.
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Disclaimer
and Reproduction Information: Information in NASD does not
represent NIOSH policy. Information included in NASD appears
by permission of the author and/or copyright holder. More
NASD Review: 04/2002
This
document was extracted from
MF-1085
'Health Concerns in Agriculture': A tabloid published by Extension
Agricultural Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan,
Kansas. Publication date: October 1993.
Prepared
by Jill Shelley and Michael Dennis, Educational Materials
Specialist, Cooperative Extension Service, Kansas State University,
Manhattan, Kansas.
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