1. Before and After Arthritis on the Farm:
Identifying Methods of Prevention and Safety, and Utilizing Methods of Pain Management and Control
SPEAKER NOTES:
SLIDE 1
(Presenter addresses audience as appropriate for venue, time of day, etc.) [Good morning] everybody, my name is [insert name] and I am with the Arthritis Foundation [insert chapter name]. The Arthritis Foundation is a national non-profit organization dedicated to improving lives through leadership in the prevention, control and cure of arthritis and related conditions.
Today’s presentation is “Discover Arthritis: Take Control – Exploring arthritis through diagnosis and treatment options.” I’ll be talking to you today about arthritis, how it is diagnosed, and the different things that you can do to treat and manage arthritis symptoms. While this presentation is not medical advice, it can help you better understand arthritis.
If you have any questions during this presentation, feel free to ask! I’ll try to answer all of your questions and chances are if you’ve got a question in mind someone else is wondering the same thing.

2. This slide says it all: Arthritis is far-reaching and affects everyone
This slide says it all: Arthritis is far-reaching and affects everyone. It’s expensive – and threatens quality of life.
Arthritis is a thief. It steals everyday joys and long-term dreams. It isolates and ostracizes. It’s painful. It induces a spirit of No.

3. Application to Field/Research:
Over 50 million Americans have arthritis, making it the number one cause of disability in the country. That means 1 in every 5 adults is affected, and nearly 1/3 of all farmers are affected.
Objectives:
Identifications of areas of joint stress or potential injury in several farming operation types (dairy, mechanics, field work, etc.)
Suggestions for methods of prevention of joint stress or injury
Identification of limitations and disability caused by arthritis
Suggestions for assistive devices, modified tools, and operation changes to manage/control arthritis pain and limitations.
Application to Field/Research:
Prevention of joint pain and injury
Application of health and wellness techniques for pain management
Application of assistive devices for longevity and productivity of work
Decreasing risk of secondary injury

4. Agricultural Awareness
Common Occupational Risk Factors
Top 7 Pain-Causing Activities by Survey
Being over weight
Bending/Kneeling/Squatting/Climbing/Jumping (grain bins, ladders, milking, etc.)
Heavy Lifting or Carrying (feed bags, water buckets, etc.)
Frequent Bending/Twisting/Turning (heights of weight benches, storage, tool locations, etc.)
Persistent awkward postures
Hand tasks and use of tools
Compression of weight bearing joints by lifting in awkward positions
Walking long distances, sometimes over uneven/difficult terrain
Driving for long periods of time (exposure to whole-body vibration) in tractors/utility vehicles
Weather exposure – cold and hot
Vibrations from lawn care machinery, stress on joints from weed eaters, trimmers, etc.
Ranch work- horseback riding, roping, farrier work
Livestock care- chutes, medical attention, breeding
Repetitive forceful work is considered to both aggravate and accelerate development of osteoarthritis and aggravate other forms of arthritis. 4

5. Before: Prevention SPEAKER NOTES: SLIDE 1
(Presenter addresses audience as appropriate for venue, time of day, etc.) [Good morning] everybody, my name is [insert name] and I am with the Arthritis Foundation [insert chapter name]. The Arthritis Foundation is a national non-profit organization dedicated to improving lives through leadership in the prevention, control and cure of arthritis and related conditions.
Today’s presentation is “Discover Arthritis: Take Control – Exploring arthritis through diagnosis and treatment options.” I’ll be talking to you today about arthritis, how it is diagnosed, and the different things that you can do to treat and manage arthritis symptoms. While this presentation is not medical advice, it can help you better understand arthritis.
If you have any questions during this presentation, feel free to ask! I’ll try to answer all of your questions and chances are if you’ve got a question in mind someone else is wondering the same thing.

6. ARTHRITIS FACTORS Factors that can be controlled: Weight control/diet
Muscle weakness/posture
Physical inactivity/exercise
Joint Injury/support joints
Pacing work/tool selection
Factors that cannot be controlled:
Age, gender
Heredity, genetic factors
SPEAKER NOTES:
SLIDE 9 OA There is no single cause of osteoarthritis. However, there are several things that could be connected with its development. Some of these things you can control, some of them you cannot.
Let’s start by talking about the things that you CAN control. First on the list is weight. Being overweight puts more pressure on your joints and can increase the odds of developing osteoarthritis in weight-bearing joints like the knees. In fact, studies show that losing as much as 15 pounds can cut knee pain in half.
Muscle weakness can also increase your chances of developing osteoarthritis. When the muscles that surround your joints are weak, the joint itself is not always held in the right position. A lack of physical activity also increases your chances of developing osteoarthritis. Staying active is very important and physical activity is often a treatment for many types of arthritis. Last on our list of things we CAN do to control osteoarthritis is joint injury. We can prevent joint injuries by protecting them during our activities. You may notice it is also in the “cannot control” category too and we will talk about that in just a minute.
There are certain things that we have no control over. Age is a big one. There are also times when we cannot control joint injury -like in a car accident or if we injured ourselves as kids. Last, inherited traits from our parents are also things we cannot control. (see FAQ #1)
Now let’s talk about another form of arthritis called Rheumatoid Arthritis.

7. Physical Preparation Use proper body mechanics
keeping your feet shoulder width apart
bending at the knees/hips
keeping the back straight, avoid rotation
Proper mounting and lifting techniques
carrying the weight as close to the body as possible
using the largest joint available
climb with the strongest joint leading
do not skip steps, both feet planted

8. Perfecting Your Posture
Poor posture can lead to pain, fatigue, and strains on the muscles, joints, and spine
the upper back has limited movement, the lower back needs to be able to flex forward and backward, it should NOT twist

9. Buzz Word: Ergonomics!
Careful tool selection can make work easier, while protecting from unnecessary and unwanted stress, strain, and injury.
Some tools are made specifically for women, with lighter materials and smaller grips.
Choose the right tool for the job/worker!
Ex: Arthritis Tips for Hand Tools:
Neutral join positions
Appropriately sized, soft padded handles
Reduction of vibration and slipping
Long-handled tools
Thumb rests and proper diameter grips
Spring-loaded or power-assist tools

10. Ergonomic Hand Tools

11. Support Your Joints
Proper footwear is crucial to supporting the ankles and knees.
Be aware of carrying heavy loads using your wrist as the main joint.
Wear braces to support repetitive and stressful movements
Wear gloves to support the wrists and finger joints.

12. After: Management SPEAKER NOTES: SLIDE 1
(Presenter addresses audience as appropriate for venue, time of day, etc.) [Good morning] everybody, my name is [insert name] and I am with the Arthritis Foundation [insert chapter name]. The Arthritis Foundation is a national non-profit organization dedicated to improving lives through leadership in the prevention, control and cure of arthritis and related conditions.
Today’s presentation is “Discover Arthritis: Take Control – Exploring arthritis through diagnosis and treatment options.” I’ll be talking to you today about arthritis, how it is diagnosed, and the different things that you can do to treat and manage arthritis symptoms. While this presentation is not medical advice, it can help you better understand arthritis.
If you have any questions during this presentation, feel free to ask! I’ll try to answer all of your questions and chances are if you’ve got a question in mind someone else is wondering the same thing.

13. PAIN RELIEF: Things YOU can do
Heat (relaxes muscles) and cold treatments (reduces swelling, pain)
Weight loss/nutrition (supplements)
Physical activity
Pace yourself
Complimentary therapies
Research
SPEAKER NOTES:
SLIDE 13 THINGS YOU CAN DO
There are things you can do to help the pain and there are also things your health care provider can do. First let’s discuss things you can do for yourself including heat and cold, weight loss, physical activity, pacing yourself and Arthritis Foundation Programs for Better Living series.

14. PAIN RELIEF: Things your health care provider can do
Physical/Occupational Therapy
Over-The-Counter Meds
Acetaminophens
NSAIDs
Topicals
Prescription Meds
Surgery (arthroscopy, synovectomy, replacement)
SPEAKER NOTES:
SLIDE 26: PAIN RELIEF
When the do-it-yourself approaches we just talked about cannot fully address your pain issues, there is a lot that your health care provider can do.
A health care professional might recommend a physical or occupational therapy program, prescribe specific medications that aren’t available over the counter, or in some cases surgical options. Alternative therapies are another option your health care professional might discuss with you.
We will discuss these options in more detail on the next few slides.

17. The Toolbox: Agricultural Tools, Equipment, Machinery & Buildings for Farmers and Ranchers with Physical Disabilities is a resource that contains assistive technology solutions for farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural workers with disabilities.

18. Better Living Toolkit
Essential resources to help people with arthritis better understand their arthritis and live life to its fullest.
Centerpiece: Better Living Health Tracker, featuring the RAPID3 (Routine Assessment Patient Index Data) tool:
Helps patients monitor symptoms, goals and progress towards goals
Facilitates effective communication during doctor appointments
BLT registration opens the door to further engagement – National s, plus local follow-up including phone/ .
Coming Soon: Digital Better Living Toolkit

19. Arthritis Resource Finder
Specialized geo-locator tool to:
Find local resources in the community—such as medical equipment suppliers, health care providers, physical therapists, home care agencies and pharmacies
Locate nearby group fitness programs that are safe for people with arthritis. 
Discover local Arthritis Foundation resources and events

20. Presenter Contact Information
Amber D. Wolfe, M.S.
Community Engagement Director
Arthritis Foundation
615 N. Alabama Street, Suite 430
Indianapolis, IN 46204
SPEAKER NOTES:
SLIDE 32 CONCLUSIONS
Today we have gone over a lot of information. We talked about the basics of arthritis-what it is, how many people have it, how it is diagnosed and the most common types. We also discussed all of the things you can do for yourself to treat arthritis pain. These include applying heat and cold, doing 30 minutes of physical activity 3 or more days a week, maintaining a healthy weight, and participating in programs available from the Arthritis Foundation. There were also a number of things that your health care provider can recommend such as wellness activities, physical therapy, medications and as a last option, surgery. There were also complimentary and alternative therapies you could try including acupuncture. Finally, we talked about the resources that are available to you through the Arthritis Foundation-many of them free!
I hope that you’ve had some questions answered today, and I welcome any more questions or comments that you might have.