Read the studies
The research behind the programs
Before we wrote a session, we read what published studies say about farm work and the body. Here is every finding we print, where it comes from, what it measured, and what we did with it.
How to read this page
- We read these; we did not run them. They are published studies and public figures, linked to the source.
- They show links, not causes. A survey can find that farmers report more back pain without showing that farming caused it.
- The programs are general strength and mobility work. Nothing here says they treat, fix, or heal anything.
Contents
Six findings, by body area
Pick an area to see what was found there and the moves that train it.
Showing all 6 findings.
Knees
A pooled analysis of 71 studies found higher odds of knee osteoarthritis in people with physically demanding jobs, and agricultural work was one of the higher-risk groups.
Source: Wang et al., 2020
- What it measured
- Researchers pooled earlier studies that compared knee osteoarthritis in people with physically demanding jobs against people with lighter work. It shows a link with the kind of job, not that the job caused it.
- How it shaped the programs
- Bale step-ups and slow split squats build thigh and hip strength for kneeling and climbing.In: Foundation, Back in Shape
Low back
A review of 24 studies worldwide found about 48% of farmers reported low back pain in the past year, and 75% had it at some point in life.
Source: Osborne et al., 2012
- What it measured
- It gathered studies from around the world that asked farmers whether they had low back pain in the past year, and ever. These are self-reports: pain people noticed, not diagnoses.
- How it shaped the programs
- Bucket hinges and one-sided carries train the hips and trunk to share the lift.In: Foundation, Back in Shape, Full Strength
Shoulders and neck
In a survey of 518 Midwest farmers, about 31% reported neck or shoulder pain in the previous two weeks.
Source: Fethke et al., 2015
- What it measured
- Farmers in the Midwest answered a survey about neck and shoulder pain in the two weeks before. It is one survey, from one region, at one point in time.
- How it shaped the programs
- Sack rows and two-bucket carries work both sides and the upper back.In: Back in Shape, Full Strength
Shoulders and neck
In a US national survey, agricultural workers reported shoulder pain more often than workers in other industries (prevalence ratio 1.28).
Source: Lee et al., 2014, via CDC Stacks
- What it measured
- A national US health survey compared how often workers in different industries reported shoulder pain. A ratio above 1 means agricultural workers reported it more often.
- How it shaped the programs
- Sack rows and two-bucket carries work both sides and the upper back.In: Back in Shape, Full Strength
Balance
The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends exercise programs for adults 65 and older who are at higher risk of falling.
Source: US Preventive Services Task Force
- What it measured
- This is a recommendation, not one study. A national panel that reviews the evidence looked at exercise for adults 65 and older who are at higher risk of falling.
- How it shaped the programs
- Single-leg stands at the fence post train balance for rough ground and cab steps. We do not claim the balance work prevents falls. The recommendation is about exercise for older adults at higher risk.In: Foundation, Back in Shape
Age on the farm
The average US farm producer is 58.1 years old, and 38% of producers are 65 or older.
Source: USDA Census of Agriculture, 2022
- What it measured
- This is a count, not a health study: the 2022 Census of Agriculture figures on the age of the people running US farms.
- How it shaped the programs
- Every tier starts where your body is today, at any age, and you move between tiers as that changes.In: Foundation, Back in Shape, Full Strength
Left off the tag
What we left out and why
We read more than we print. A finding stays off this page when it rests on one small study, when we could not confirm the figure at the source, or when studies disagree.
Grip strength and muscle loss with age are two examples. The programs still train grip and leg strength, but we did not find farm-specific numbers solid enough to print, so we print none. Hip joint wear in farmers was another mixed picture.
If a study is not on this page, we do not lean on it.
Find the tier that fits your body
A few questions about how your body feels and what is in your barn, then a suggested tier with its price.
Caution Check with your doctor before you start. Results vary from person to person.