ORRVILLE, Ohio — Farms are unique environments, according to Kent McGuire, program coordinator for Ohio’s AgrAbility Program through The Ohio State University and Easter Seals of Ohio. The home and the workplace are the same, and because of the nature of the business, the farm presents a vast work area.

Second, farming, because of its seasonality, means long workdays many times during the year. “Livestock don’t take the day off,” he pointed out. “The seasonality of fruit and vegetable production means long days, as well.”

Also, health is critical to the survival of the family business. “If a farmer is injured and has to go through a lengthy recovery and rehabilitation time, it is devastating for the farming operation,” McGuire said.

He said there is never a good time for a farmer to have a joint replacement. “Oftentimes, farmers will over compensate for a weakened joint and they will end up having to have both joints replaced,” he said. “This means an extended recovery time.”

That is why farming smarter is the key to farming with arthritis, according to McGuire.

“Most farmers think arthritis is part of the normal aging process,” he said. “Nationally, 33 percent of farmers and ranchers have been diagnosed with arthritis by medical professionals. In Ohio, those numbers run closer to 45 percent.”

Studies show one in five people are going to get arthritis, with osteoarthritis being the most common kind. Those statistics are a concern to McGuire because of the importance of agriculture to the state’s economy.

Many day-to-day tasks on the farm involve high-impact labor; however, farmers can do things to prevent and manage arthritis.

They should not be embarrassed to ask for help with cumbersome or awkward tasks, according to McGuire.

“Plan ahead and organize your day,” he said. “Simplify your work tasks; this will increase your efficiency and reduce the amount of movement you need to accomplish the job. Store and arrange your tools so they are easy to reach.”

McGuire said farmers have a habit of jumping down off equipment, which causes a jarring impact when they land on a hard surface. A safer method is using three points of contact – either two hands and one foot or one hand and two feet – as they dismount, especially from large tractors and combines.

“Don’t stay in one position for a long period of time,” he said. “Take short breaks, take a walk or stretch periodically. It will also allow you time to take a break and take the weight off your joints.”

McGuire added farmers should protect their hands, especially when they are grasping or gripping tools or other objects.

“Use gloves with dexterity,” he said. “Avoid grasping an object tightly for a long period of time, and build up the handle to reduce vibrations. Use an extension to create leverage on the tool.”

Coping with stress is also a big issue in dealing with arthritis, according to McGuire, so farmers with arthritis need to find ways to reduce their stress levels.

He said a new program offered by faculty and students from OSU Medical Center, the OSU Cares about Farmers with Arthritis Screening Project, might provide solutions for farmers struggling with arthritis.

The program helps farmers with arthritis manage their disease and hopes to prevent others from getting the disease.

The goal is to send teams to various agricultural events throughout Ohio to conduct arthritis screenings for farmers and other people in agriculture.

It is under the direction of Margaret Teaford, an associate professor in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. Those involved hope it will help older farmers and their families understand that arthritis can be managed or prevented.

“Another part of the project is to provide management and prevention tips so that farmers can maintain productivity on their farms,” said McGuire. “The screenings show that the majority of Ohio’s farmers have either developed arthritis or are at high risk of developing arthritis.

“Much of that is due to the physical nature of farm work; the day-to-day tasks farmers have to do are often done in adverse weather conditions.”

The screenings are free and include identifying risk factors for arthritis and a physical fitness component to test strength, balance and flexibility. The screenings were developed in conjunction with Sharon Flinn, an occupational therapist and faculty member in health and rehabilitation sciences.

“We want to help them manage the arthritis they have and to reduce the risk of other farmers from getting arthritis,” McGuire said. “The average age of Ohio farmers is 57, so age plays a big role simply because the majority of our farmers have been around farm work their entire lives, which increases their chance of developing arthritis.”

Funding for the program comes from a grant from OSU Cares, an outreach and engagement program at OSU; the Linda Cummings Simmons Research Endowment; and an Area Health Education Center grant, which seeks to link health care students with underserved areas. A long-term goal of the program is to develop ongoing teams of extension educators and health care providers to do the screenings on regular basis, and to provide helpful information on the issue in extension newsletters.