New DVD Offers Physicians, Farmers Tips on Arthritis

June 7, 2004

MU Researchers Offer Help for Farmers Suffering From Chronic Pain

COLUMBIA, Mo. (HealthNewsDigest.com)...–Living with arthritis is a

24/7 proposition. For farmers, every movement can bring pain,

affecting their ability to work and their bottom line. The rural

setting also can limit access to physicians. When farmers do see a

doctor, explaining the daily tugs and stretches made while working on

a farm can be difficult. To better help physicians offer treatment as

well as assist farmers in managing their own care, a team of

University of Missouri-Columbia researchers and educators have

produced a DVD with tips for making life easier and less painful for

farmers with arthritis.

More than 1 million people directly involved in agriculture have one

of the more than 100 types of arthritis. Marilyn Sanford Hargove, MU

physical therapy professor, said the goal of the DVD " Farming with

Arthritis " is to support physicians and farmers as they battle

potentially crippling diseases. The DVD is being distributed to all

rheumatology fellowship programs in the United States as well as

University of Missouri extension offices, physical and occupational

therapy schools, regional arthritis centers, and at conferences on

arthritis treatment and management.

" Some physicians need a better understanding of what is available,

beyond medication, to assist with arthritis, " Hargrove

said. " Sometimes physicians do not have a good understanding about

the lifestyle of farmers, people who live where they work. People

with a chronic condition often benefit from a team approach, rather

than being managed solely by a physician. "

The DVD depicts farmers building fences, planting crops, moving

irrigation equipment and other chores that indicate types of movement

required on a daily basis. Other tips, such as adapting older farm

equipment to become more " body-friendly, " are presented. Doctors also

learn about the lifestyle of people who often live far from medical

facilities, where a day off from chores is impossible.

" Early intervention and education are important, " Hargrove said. " The

earlier farmers learn to manage their conditions, the better off they

are. Every farmer could benefit from a discussion about what to do

differently on a farm to make the work easier on their bodies. "

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