News Release
February 2, 2009

Ranching and farming with arthritis workshops in Worland, Riverton, Wheatland

Workshops to help producers with arthritis farm and ranch are in Worland, Riverton and Wheatland this February.

“More than 80 percent of ranchers and farmers experience some form of arthritis,” said Randy Weigel, human development specialist with the University of Wyoming Cooperative Extension Service (UW CES) and project director for Wyoming AgrAbility. “Ranchers and farmers are heavily affected by this condition, which can reduce their ability to perform work tasks efficiently.”

The workshops are Feb. 24 at the Washakie Learning Center in Worland; Feb. 25 in Riverton at the Fairgrounds Armory Building; and Feb. 27 in Wheatland at the Platte County UW CES office.

Topics include learning the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of arthritis, myths and facts of arthritis and ways to manage pain while ranching and farming. Examples of assistive technology devices that can make life less painful and what to look for when buying assistive technology devices to help protect joints are also part of the workshop.                  

Speakers include Sarah Perry, occupational therapist with Gottsche Rehabilitation Center, Mary Fick Monteith, assistive technology specialist with Wyoming Institute for Disabilities Assistive Technology Resource, and Weigel.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 22 percent (104,000) of adults in Wyoming report living with some form of arthritis. Approximately 31 percent of Americans clinically diagnosed with arthritis report experiencing limitations in their normal work routine.

“Arthritis is second only to heart disease as a cause of work disability,” noted Weigel. “Arthritis refers to more than 100 different diseases that affect areas in and around joints; but there are steps that can be taken to alleviate symptoms and allow performance of day-to-day tasks on the ranch or farm.”

Refreshments and a box lunch are provided. For additional information and to register, contact Wyoming AgrAbility toll-free at (866) 395-4986, or email to

agrability@uwyo.edu, or Weigel at (307) 766-4186, or weig@uwyo.edu. If unable to attend the workshop but would like information on ranching and farming with arthritis, contact the Wyoming AgrAbility office.

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Contact: Steven L. Miller, Senior Editor
Phone: (307) 766-6342
E-mail: slmiller@uwyo.edu
Archived News Site http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/UWAG/news.asp

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