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University of Florida researchers are studying whether pain self-management and ergonomic modifications can reduce back pain in horticulture workers. Early findings show improvements in pain and work task difficulty, though the study is still ongoing.
Researchers at the University of Florida are conducting an ongoing study of back pain among nursery and landscape workers, testing whether pain self-management techniques and ergonomic modifications can reduce injuries in the horticulture industry. Preliminary findings show improvements in reported pain and work task difficulty, according to the study’s lead researcher.
The study is being carried out by scientists affiliated with the Southeastern Coastal Center for Agricultural Health and Safety (SCCAHS), which is based at the University of Florida, and includes faculty from UF’s College of Public Health and Health Professions and the Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences. The lead researcher is Kim Dunleavy, a clinical professor in UF’s Department of Physical Therapy.
In the study’s first phase, researchers interviewed stakeholders from the nursery and landscape industry, including supervisors, workers, and insurance consultants. Those interviews confirmed that many workers continue working despite pain, and that back pain is so common many consider it simply part of the job. Workers described long hours spent lifting heavy plants, carrying materials, digging, and working in bent or awkward positions.
According to Dunleavy, preliminary results are encouraging, with participants reporting improvements in work task difficulty and pain. The findings point to the value of teaching workers about the risks of pain medication and encouraging simple pain management strategies before pain becomes a more serious or long-term problem. Study participants said preventing back injuries would not require major changes in workplace practices, but called for tailored interventions specific to horticulture work, where formal injury-prevention training is often limited.
Costs of Untreated Back Pain
Back pain affects both workers and employers in the horticulture industry. According to Dunleavy, reduced productivity, the loss of experienced workers, and the overall costs of injury carry major consequences for companies, while workers who rely on their bodies for income face the most direct burden.
The study also highlights a medication-related concern. Dunleavy noted that back pain can lead workers to rely on opioids, muscle relaxers, or over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen and anti-inflammatories, all of which carry potential negative health side effects. For an industry already facing challenges with worker burnout and employee retention, addressing pain early could reduce longer-term costs in injuries, lost productivity, and turnover.
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Seasonal Workloads Shape the Research
: “Early interviews with horticulture workers and industry leaders pointed to seasonal and weather-related variability in workloads, meaning practical solutions need to work for both employees and employers across changing conditions. Workers and industry representatives told researchers that short-term gains from working through pain can come at a longer-term cost, including injuries and burnout.
The research is part of the broader work of SCCAHS, a UF-based agricultural health and safety center. A full account of the study, written by Chris Vivian, is available on the UF/IFAS website.
“Not only is back pain debilitating for workers who rely on their bodies for income, reduced productivity, losing experienced workers, and overall costs for injury have major consequences for companies.”
— Kim Dunleavy, clinical professor, UF Department of Physical Therapy and lead researcher
Questions the Study Has Yet to Answer
The study is ongoing, and the preliminary findings described by researchers have not yet been published as final peer-reviewed results. It is not yet clear how large the reported improvements in pain and task difficulty are, how long they last, or how many workers and companies are participating in the intervention phase.
Researchers have also not detailed which specific ergonomic modifications or self-management techniques proved most effective, or how the interventions perform across different seasonal workloads. Whether the approaches can be adopted widely across the horticulture industry, and at what cost to employers, remains to be determined.
Next Steps for the Research Team
The research team is expected to continue the intervention phase of the study and analyze results on whether self-management and ergonomic changes produce lasting improvements. According to Dunleavy, the findings so far support introducing education on pain medication risks, simple pain management strategies, and workplace guidance tailored to horticulture tasks. Readers can follow the full account of the study on the UF/IFAS website for additional detail as it becomes available.
Key Questions
Who is conducting the study on back pain in horticulture workers?
Researchers from the University of Florida-based Southeastern Coastal Center for Agricultural Health and Safety, including faculty from UF’s College of Public Health and Health Professions and the Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences. Kim Dunleavy, a clinical professor in UF’s Department of Physical Therapy, is the lead researcher.
What is the study testing?
It is examining whether pain self-management techniques and ergonomic modifications are effective at reducing back pain among nursery and landscape workers.
What have the preliminary findings shown?
According to Dunleavy, early results are encouraging, with participants reporting improvements in work task difficulty and pain. Final published results are not yet available.
Why is back pain a concern in the horticulture industry?
Workers spend long hours lifting heavy plants, carrying materials, digging, and working in awkward positions. Many continue working through pain, which can lead to injuries, reliance on pain medications, reduced productivity, burnout, and worker turnover.
Do the interventions require major workplace changes?
No. According to study participants, preventing back injuries would not require major changes in workplace practices, but the industry needs tailored interventions, greater awareness of pain in the workplace, and more guidance on injury prevention.
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