A survey has been conducted on the incidence of pain in the lower back among persons engaged in farming in suburban areas in Hiroshima Prefecture. A summary of the findings is as follows:
Overwhelmingly large numbers of full-time farmers and those with history of neurosis or neurotic tendencies complained of lower back pains. Working posture, carrying of heavy objects, habitual bodily movement and coldness, among others, can be given as the exciting causes of the lumbargo.
A study of the living and working conditions of these farmers suggested that the amount of labor, protein intake deficiency, abortion and way of going to and from farm fields have some bearing on the occurrence of lower backaches.
Orthopedic examination showed that aging was exclusively responsible for the backache.
With all these risk factors in mind, we encouraged the farmers to practice prophylactic exercises. The results are not certain yet to say that the practice is effective.
Under proper guidance, the patients could get over the pain. What is important is farmers' health consciousness.