Transcript Osteoarthritis and Farm Youth: An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure Amber Wolfe Tuesday, July 28, 2015 3:00 p.m.

Osteoarthritis and Farm Youth:
An Ounce of Prevention is
Worth a Pound of Cure
Amber Wolfe
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
3:00 p.m. EDT
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• AgrAbility: USDA-sponsored program that
assists farmers, ranchers, and other
agricultural workers with disabilities.
– Partners land grant universities with disability services
organizations. Currently 20 state projects
– National AgrAbility Project: Led by Purdue’s Breaking
New Ground Resource Center. Partners include:
• Goodwill of the Finger Lakes
• The Arthritis Foundation, Heartland Region
• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• Colorado State University
– More information available at
www.agrability.org
Rural
Arthritis
Education
Curriculum
Resource
Creak, Crack,
Moan and Groan:
Farm Kids
Get Arthritis Too!
WORKING SMARTER, NOT HARDER,
TO PREVENT ARTHRITIS PAIN
IN AGRICULTURE
Agriculture is one of the most
hazardous industries in the nation.
An estimated 1.04 million children and
adolescents under 20 years of age resided on
farms in 2009, with about 590,000 of these
youth performing work on the farms.
SOURCE: Agricultural Safety:
2009 Injuries to Youth on
Farms - USDA, National
Agricultural Statistics Service
SOURCE: 2007 Census of
Agriculture- USDA, National
Agricultural Statistics Service
In addition to the youth who lived on farms, an
additional 307,000 children and adolescents
were hired to work on U.S. farms in 2006.
• Estimated 3,601 injuries performing farm
work- highest rate is from livestock work.
Over 1/3 of US farmers have a
diagnosed form of arthritis.
The average age of the US farmer is
57 years old.
How do these facts affect the
working dynamic of the farming
culture across generations?
Are more farm youth taking over
tasks that they are not physically fit
for?
Are they capable of handling
those tasks?
Are there other factors in their life
that may affect their joint strength?
JUVENILE ARTHRITIS
Juvenile arthritis is the term used to
describe arthritis in children. The most
common type that children get is juvenile
idiopathic arthritis (idiopathic means “from
unknown causes”). There are several
other forms of arthritis affecting children.
Juvenile arthritis affects children of all
ages and ethnic backgrounds. About
294,000 American children under age 18
have arthritis or other rheumatic
conditions.
OSTEOARTHRITIS
Most common form seen in farmers
and agricultural workers.
But many youth agricultural workers
do not know they may be at risk of
developing osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis is not a normal
consequence of aging.
FARM YOUTH ARE AT RISK.
WHY ARE YOUTH AT RISK?
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•
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Lack of experience
Unfamiliar with the work
Enthusiasm outweighs judgment
Risk-takers
Driven to succeed
Reluctant to ask questions
FACTORS AND RISKS ON
THE FARM
• Stress- market prices, family, animal health,
schedule, diet
• Overuse of Body and Joints- lifting, bending,
carrying, squatting, kneeling, pulling,
pushing, grasping, etc.
• Age/weight/genetics
• School/athletic injuries
• External Factors- weather, uncontrollable
livestock, accidents, machinery malfunctions
SOURCES OF JOINT STRESS
ON THE FARM
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
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Driving tractors, combines, grain trucks
(whole body vibration)
Hitching implements
Throwing, stacking hay
Milking cows and other livestock work
Lifting and carrying heavy feed bags
Lifting and carrying water buckets
Fixing fence
Using hand tools
RESEARCH?
• Youth Osteoarthritis Survey Results
– Student Surveys- 241/322 returned
– Illinois FFA Surveys- 173 completed
• Compiled Data- 414 Responses
– Residence Majority- Town/Village
– Average Age- 16.5
– Farm Labor- 68.3% Yes/31.7% No
– Sex- 59.4% Male/40.6% Female
WHEN A FARM KID HAS
ARTHRITIS…
Farmers and ranchers with arthritis are faced with many
obstacles that limit their ability to continue farming.
Like farming, arthritis is often a 24-hour, 7-day a week
occupation.
As hard as it is for a farmer to change routine,
life-style changes can be beneficial. And not
all change has to use technology.
– Pain, fatigue, and stiffness are effects of arthritis that can
limit a farmer and rancher.
– It may cause difficulty completing a specific task, hinder the
progress of daily activities, or even leave them feeling
completely overwhelmed.
– From simple physical tasks – getting on the tractor, loading
feed – to social activities, arthritis can interfere with one’s
life.
ARTHRITIS MANAGEMENT
1. Get a proper diagnosisearly detection
2. Work with a team of health care providers
3. Get proper exercise/watch weight and diet
4. Age appropriate farm chores
5. Joint protectionbody mechanics/ergonomics
6. Use assistive technologiesif appropriate
7. Manage stress and pace yourselfwork simplification
8. Be educatedunproven remedies
• North American
Guidelines for Children’s
Agricultural Tasks
– http://www.nagcat.org
• Penn State Extension
– http://extension.psu.edu
/business/agsafety/youthsafety/children-andsafety-on-the-farm
Age
Birth–4
5–9
10–13
13–16
16–18
Developmentally Appropriate Work Tasks

None. Children this age should not be exposed to work hazards.

Tasks of short duration that do not require hand-eye coordination

Projects with hand tools, not power tools
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Help with watering plants and feeding small animals (pets/orphans)

Collect eggs

Hand raking, digging

Limited power tool use (supervision); hand tools better

Operating lawn mower (push mower, flat surface, under supervision) or
garden tractor

Handling and assisting with animals

Still needs adult supervision but ready for more adult jobs such as
equipment operation and maintenance

Manual handling of feed and feeding animals

Can operate a tractor over 20 PTO horsepower or connect/ disconnect
parts to or from tractor at ages 14 and 15 after the completion of a 10hour training program

Can assist with and operate (including stopping adjusting, and feeding) the
following after completing a 10-hour training program: cornpicker, cotton
picker, grain combine, hay mower forage harvester, hay baler, potato
digger, feed grinder, crop dryer, forage blower, auger, the unloading
mechanism of a nongravity -type self-unloading wagon or trailer, power
post-hole digger, power post driver or nonwalking rotary tiller

May be ready to work with tractors, self-propelled machinery, augers,
elevators, and other farm equipment, but must earn this responsibility.
Should be trained, educated, and supervised at regular intervals.
BASIC ERGONOMICS
Goal of Ergonomics: to make sure workers are
uninjured, safe, and comfortable, as well as productive
in their jobs
Ergonomics finds the best fit between the worker and
the job by finding the right tools and environment.
DO THE MATH!
Physical Capabilities + Body Limitations + Work Tasks
+ Tools Available + Environment
= ERGONOMICS
How can we make sure youth workers
are uninjured, safe, comfortable, and
productive?
Find the best fit between worker and job.
Ergonomically, determine the:
• physical capabilities of the youth worker
• tasks to be completed
• tools to be used
• job environment
Redesign the tools or redesign how the work process is
completed.
Injuries are prevented as a natural result of improved work
posture, reduced force, or less repetition. Put ergonomic
changes into operation along with training on how to work
safely.
OPERATION MODIFICATIONS
• Educate on the dangers of jumping off of wagons and out
of machinery
• Encourage use of mounting aids or steps
• If age permits, provide utility vehicles, or carts to prevent
carrying heavy loads
• Provide adjustable seats/stools for working at tool benches
• Educate on livestock awareness, keeping clear working
areas and pathways, and danger in chutes
• Encourage use of anti-fatigue mats and wearing proper
footwear
• Teach proper mounting and lifting techniques
• Provide additional mirrors, adaptable handles and controls,
or other needed tools
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
Tool Adaptations
• Longer handles
• Larger diameter handles
• Support braces
• Step stools
• Utility vehicles
• Specialty tools
Operation Modifications
• Downsizing herds
• Changing crops/products
• Hiring more employees
TOOL ADAPTATIONS
Air suspension seats, shock absorption
Permanent steps or lifts, extendable ladder steps,
raised milking parlors
Shoulder slings, utility carts and vehicles, ergonomic
tools, long-handled or padded tool handles
Blocks under bench legs, adjustable seats/stools
Anti-fatigue mats, proper footwear, anti-vibration
hand protection
Additional mirrors, adaptable handles and controls
Rural
Arthritis
Education
Curriculum
Resource
Creak, Crack,
Moan and Groan:
Farm Kids
Get Arthritis Too!
WORKING SMARTER, NOT HARDER,
TO PREVENT ARTHRITIS PAIN
IN AGRICULTURE
WRITTEN CURRICULUM:
1. Grades 7-12
2. Written as 1 continual lesson, or 3 individual lessons
3. Classroom or Lab settings
Written Lesson Plans Include
– Materials
– Objectives
– Interest Approaches
– Talking Points and Content
– Accompanying Slides
– Teachable Moments Activities
– Oral Review Quiz Questions
– References
PILOT TESTING
• The complete lesson plan curriculum was pilottested in 14 class settings in 8 schools (7 high
school, 1 middle school) in Central and Southern
Indiana over a 7 week time period . Settings
included traditional classrooms, agricultural labs
and FFA meetings.
• Lesson Plan Feedback
• -Teacher Evaluations- 10 out of 10 returned
• -Student Evaluations- 197 out of 322 returned
Rural
Arthritis
Education
Curriculum
Resource
Creak, Crack,
Moan and Groan:
Farm Kids
Get Arthritis Too!
WORKING SMARTER, NOT HARDER,
TO PREVENT ARTHRITIS PAIN
IN AGRICULTURE
THE CURRICULUM HAS 3 CONTENT SECTIONS:
1. Arthritis and Youth
2. Stressful Farming Tasks
3. Ergonomics and Assistive Technology
There is a quiz at the end of each section. This quiz must
be passed with a minimum score of 80% to proceed to
the next section.
ADDITIONAL LINKS
Click the “green i” for
more info!
Click the “house” to
go to the home screen.
At any point in time, a student may return to the home
screen by clicking on the house icon in the lower left
corner of the slides. This will re-start your session at the
beginning of the current section.
THERE ARE 5 EXTRA SECTIONS:
1. Rural Youth: Assess Your Joint Health Quiz
2. Classroom Hands-On Lab Experiments
3. Classroom Engineering Challenge
4. References
5. Completion Certificate
ADDITIONAL LINKS
Click the “green i” for
more info!
Click the “house” to
go to the home screen.
Some slides have an extra info icon, or other resources
linked to the information- check them out!
Make sure you listen to the audio marked
with the speaker icon on some slides!
To begin the first section, click on the link below.
BEGIN SECTION 1
REVIEW/RESOURCES
POLL QUESTIONS
?
CHAT QUESTIONS
Creak, Crack,
Moan and Groan:
Farm Kids
Get Arthritis Too!
?
Amber Wolfe
AgrAbility Project Coordinator
Arthritis Foundation
[email protected]