🚜👟 Why Farmers & Runners Share the Same Injuries (And How to Prevent Them)

Derek Lund
Aug 30
2 min read

When you picture a runner and a farmer, they might seem worlds apart. One’s lacing up for a long run down the Wisconsin River trail, the other’s climbing onto a tractor at or before sunrise. But here’s the surprise: farmers and runners often deal with the exact same pain problems—and for the same reasons.

1. Repetitive Motion = Wear and Tear

Farmers: Tossing small square hay bales, bending to check equipment, long hours in the same seat.
Runners: Thousands of identical steps pounding pavement or trail.👉 Both lead to overuse injuries in the low back, knees, and hips.

2. Core & Posture Drive Performance (in Both Fields)

A farmer bent over milking or shoveling with a rounded back stresses the spine and other joints over time.
A runner with poor posture slumps forward, limiting breathing and straining joints differently than they are designed for, including those of the spine.👉 In both cases, spinal/joint mobility and core stability make the difference between strength and strain.

3. Shoulder & Neck Pain are Almost Identical

Farmers: Carrying feed/water buckets or swinging gates strains the shoulders unevenly. Lets not even talk about putting up new fence.
Runners: Neck/shoulder tension builds from uneven arm swing and forward head posture.👉 Both groups end up with tight traps, sore shoulders, and tension headaches.

4. Farmers Train Like Endurance Athletes (They Just Don’t Call It That)

Think about it:

Farmers work from before sunup to sundown, lifting, bending, carrying, walking miles around the property.
Runners spend hours logging miles to prepare for marathons.👉 Both require stamina, resilience, and recovery strategies.

5. Why Chiropractic Care Helps Both

For farmers: Adjustments restore mobility lost from long hours in tractors or heavy lifting.
For runners: Spinal and pelvic mobility improves stride efficiency and prevents repetitive injuries.
For both: Regular care helps to maintain function and keeps your joints moving the way they’re supposed to.

👩‍🌾👟 Takeaway: Wausau’s Strongest Have More in Common Than You Think

Whether you’re baling hay in Marathon County or training for the Wausau Marathon, the aches you feel probably aren’t unique. They’re the result of repeated stress on the spine, hips, shoulders and other joints. The good news? The same strategies that help one group recover can help the other thrive.

At Marathon Spine & Wellness, we love caring for both hardworking farmers and endurance athletes (and sometimes both in the same family!). By keeping your spine in line and your body moving, you’ll be ready for the next mile—or the next crop of hay.

If you’re dealing with sore shoulders, nagging low back pain, or hips that just won’t loosen up, schedule a visit. Whether your finish line is at the end of a 5K or the end of a cornfield, we’ll help you get there pain-free!