Mucking Out = Sore Back?

lisan

lisan

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I work weekend am's on a local yard, feed/net 20, muck out 9ish do nets and sweep yard.

The last couple of weeks there have been more and more to muck out, 3 deep litter straw, 1 deep litter shavings, the rest shavings beds on mats that are all left up. After doing my horse first then 12 at the yard, had a lower back ache which was fine by last weekend. Then this weekend there were 13 to do Sat and 16 Sunday (did'nt get then all done sunday!) But my lower back is still aching today.

Am I being a wuss, and will it strengthen up or am I going to cause myself future problems? Could do with cutting it down to 1 day per weekend really (specially as got a nice payrise at my day job!)
 
If you cut it down to one day a weekend you could then go out competing more
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Just be careful, you only have one back and it is a nightmare when it is sore. It affects everything you do (I know because I have a knackered one!!!)
 
bend from the knees rather than using your back...also straighten up when mucking out regularily...use a long handled fork rather than a short one..oh and a 2 wheeled wheelbarrow rather than a one wheeled one

spot the one with a knacked back!!!
 
Be careful! It could be something to do with your posture as well as your workload.

I did my back in at university, mucking out, sweeping the yard, raking the gravel, raking the school and tidying the muck heap. It wasn't so much the work but my bad posture I think. Funnily enough the 'last straw' for a ligament in my lower back was bending over a pool table one evening. I bent over and found I couldn't stand up straight anymore and it was agony.

Take up something like pilates which strengthens core muscles (abs, lower back, hips etc) and encourages good posture?
 
I did ask a couple of weeks ago if they would look for someone else to 'job share',
1. because I'm having the metalwork removed out of my leg next month so will be completely out of action (not sure for how long)
2. So I can spend my time with my pony playing out!

Will have to mention it again this weekend, specially as am doing church farm again on 27th so will need that day off.
 
Joking aside .... be very careful with your back. I seriously injured my back & knees some years ago by over exertion & I still have problems with them now. Every day I wake up with back ache & do exercises to try & ease it, sometimes it works, soimetimes it doesn't.

If you continue having the back trouble then stop doing the mucking out, or at least reduce it considerably. Once you have a problem it never totally goes away & when it returns it comes back with a vengeance....take care
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I write this whilst laying on the floor trying to sort out my back. Damaged mine after years of mucking out and poor posture (everyone nagged me to carry things evenly like 2 buckets half full in each hand or not carry woodchips on one shoulder) I was so strong I ignored everyone. Now it is knackered and was thrown off horse this morning so can't move (years ago I would have bounced up with no problem). Be careful, I thought I was stronger and now not - why do you work there? Probably so you can pay for your horse, but with a knackered back you can't enjoy him. Job share or just ask to do less horses, one day per week wont help you
 
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..Once you have a problem it never totally goes away & when it returns it comes back with a vengeance....take care
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This is true unfortunately. I pulled something in my back a year and a half ago stringing up a haynet. I have had trouble ever since and it's worse mucking out straw. I know if you're doing other people's beds you have no choice, but Aubiose is so much easier.

If I overdo the mucking out (straw beds) I can end up unable to walk upright and have even been laid up in bed, it's quite scary. The meds I got from the doc are useless and just make me feel sick.

The moral: look after your back - you only have one!
 
Just had another thought as to why it is worse today - put the horsebox ramp up by myself after the SJ Clinic last night
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Will cut down on the mucking out and work on my posture too, oh and get the ramp adjusted - its those last 3 inches to push it shut!
 
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