Let’s Start Gardening and Farming!
A Surgeon’s Guide to Preventing Farm-Related Orthopedic Injuries As the days grow longer and the fields begin calling, many in our community are gearing up for planting season. It’s an exciting time—full of promise, hard work, and the satisfaction that comes from preparing the land for the year ahead. As an orthopedic surgeon who treats farmers, growers, and agricultural workers every spring, I also know this season brings a predictable spike in preventable injuries. Farm work is physically demanding, repetitive, and often unpredictable. The combination of heavy equipment, long hours, and uneven terrain can take a toll on bones, joints, and soft tissues. Before the season gets into full swing, now is the perfect time to talk about how you can protect your body while you’re out protecting your livelihood. Why Injuries Increase in Planting Season After a slower winter, our bodies aren’t always ready for the sudden jump in physical activity. Long days of lifting, climbing, ben...