Farming is a physically arduous occupation and this places farm workers at potential
risk of musculoskeletal disorders such as osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip and knee, low
back pain (LBP), neck and upper limb complaints, and hand–arm vibration syndrome
(HAVS). This review considers the epidemiological evidence concerning such risks.
The strongest evidence relates to OA of the hip, for which the public health impact is
likely to be considerable. There is also weaker, but suggestive evidence that farmers
more often have knee OA and LBP than workers in occupations with fewer physical
demands. Tractor drivers, in particular, seem to have more LBP. Relatively little
information exists on the risks of soft tissue rheumatism in the limbs and neck. For
some outcomes, the link with occupational risk factors (such as heavy loading
of joints and whole-body vibration) is sufficient to suggest the course that future
prevention should take, but for several outcomes more research is first needed.
Key words: Farmers; farm workers; hand–arm vibration syndrome; low back pain;
musculoskeletal disorders; osteoarthritis.
Received 17 April 2002; revised 11 June 2002; accepted 11 September 2002
Introduction
Although frequently portrayed as idyllic, farming is an
arduous profession. Among the many physical hazards
and stressors are: lifting and carrying heavy loads; work
with the trunk frequently flexed; risk of trips and falls on
slippery and uneven walkways; risk of accidents caused by
the sudden unpredictable actions of livestock; and exposure
to whole-body vibration (WBV) from farm vehicles
and hand-transmitted vibration (HTV) from chain saws
and powered hand-tools. Some insight into the frequency
of such exposures in Britain can be garnered from a survey
of self-reported working conditions, commissioned by
the Health