"Close to one in three Iowa farmers have a serious episode of low back pain during a year's time. And I think that when this gets more publicity, their health care providers and farmers will have more of an emphasis on prevention of low back pain, because prevention is really the answer to the issue," says Nancy Sprince, M.D., UI Occupational and Environmental Health Specialist.

This is one of the first studies of its kind to focus on farmers in one state or region. Sprince believes farmers can take some simple steps to keep back pain from slowing them down including stretching exercises, lifting with the legs, and letting machines do the work whenever possible.

"I think it's really important to focus on being more aware of how much at risk Iowa farmers are for low back pain, and to focus on the preventive aspects so their health care providers can help them prevent that first episode of disabling low back pain," says Sprince.

It's that awareness and prevention that Sprince believes can keep more farmers in the field, and not in the hospital.

For More Information:

Text of the journal article

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health