10 Back Injuries

Back injuries are by far the most common injuries among farmers and ranchers, and for good reason. The physical demands of the job, from heavy lifting to prolonged bending and repetitive manual labor, place tremendous strain on the back. As highlighted by CS-CASH (2024), this constant stress often leads to chronic pain and long-term complications that many farmers and ranchers simply work through- risking further damage. Whether you’re handling livestock or operating machinery, every task carries the potential to impact your back. Prioritizing proper posture, using lifting aids, and incorporating core-strengthening exercises are essential steps in protecting your back and ensuring you can work safely and sustainably over the long term.

Common Injuries:

• Lower Back Strains & Sprains – Often caused by heavy lifting, twisting, or prolonged bending.
• Herniated Discs – Repeated stress and poor posture can lead to disc issues.
• Chronic Pain – Minor strains left untreated can escalate into persistent discomfort.

Signs & Symptoms:

• Strains & Sprains – Dull, persistent pain, stiffness, or muscle spasms in the lower back.
• Herniated Discs – Sharp pain that may radiate down the legs, accompanied by numbness or tingling.
• Chronic Back Pain – A constant ache that interferes with daily tasks and mobility.

Common Conditions Associated with Back Injuries:

• Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease – the discs of your spine act as shock absorbers, providing cushioning and flexibility to the spine. Over time, the discs can wear down, leading to degeneration and pain. Often this condition can come without the symptoms that occur with it such as numbness, weakness, and sciatica (a condition that causes pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness in the leg, typically on one side). 
• Spinal Stenosis – a condition where the spaces in the spine narrow, putting pressure on the spinal cord and nerve roots. Thi s can cause pain, numbness, weakness, and other symptoms.
•  Ankylosing Spondylitis – a chronic inflammatory disease that primarily affects the spine. It can inflammation of the joints and ligaments in the spine, leading to pain, stiffness, and eventually fusion of the vertebrae.  
• Coccygonia – also called “tailbone pain”, is a condition that can be caused by injury to the coccyx (tailbone) during a fall. It may also result from sitting long on a hard or narrow surface. Other causes include joint changes from arthritis or during childbirth.

AgrAbility. (2024). Back on the farm, back in the saddle: A guide to back health in agriculture. AgrAbility.

Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health. (2024, July 9). Common injuries