Backache and beekeeping

[Amari]

Just sent

 

[Cellectronic]

I too suffer back ache after inspections,
I now use a weigh lifters belt.
Several years ago I broke my spine along with some other bones and had to give up weight training recently because the after pains are just not worth it(its an age thing).
I find the belt certainly helps when doing hive inspections. Also I have seen very low to the ground hives and inspections carried out by kneeling down !

 

[Suzi Q]

Hives just above ground level sometimes get over head height, and I'm a six footer, how does this number of supers work with tall stands?

I would rather suffer with the occasional backache than totter around with heavy supers above a brood box! I'm going to ditch my home-made hive stand, its very convenient now, but I remember last year with supers on, it was hairy getting them off and sometimes back on again. Maybe a little three-legged stool is the answer.

 

[Cazza]

Helps a lot, i do the same.

Would that I could kneel!! My knees are knackered and so is my back and I'm not even 50 yet. Woe is me!
My lifting belt and a trolley are my saviours.
Cazza

 

[waverider]

Maybe design a super that splits in half, therefore half the weight load.

 

[Gilberdyke John]

I would rather suffer with the occasional backache than totter around with heavy supers above a brood box! I'm going to ditch my home-made hive stand, its very convenient now, but I remember last year with supers on, it was hairy getting them off and sometimes back on again. Maybe a little three-legged stool is the answer.

A smooth concrete floor in the apiary and a set of mobile scaffold with castors and brakes may be a solution in extreme cases. I have my hives on a concreted area but so far not needed scaffold or steps etc.

 

[Hivemaker.]

...
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h54MdnOcJvU"]APILIFT MASTER - YouTube[/ame]





[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPwVMa2y-OA"]APILIFT - dva pogona - YouTube[/ame]


[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHhpWHRvKsI"]Hive Lift Demo - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Swarm]

Is it the lifting or is it more to do with being stooped over?

 

[Cazza]

Is it the lifting or is it more to do with being stooped over?

I think it's the awkward bending over and lifting simultaneously.
Cazza

 

[Swarm]

I was just wondering because it's one of the drawbacks with my job ....stuck in position, often very awkward, for extended periods. All seems fine but then you realise you are aching and move but it does not help.
I find the same with my bees, far away lifting frames and then you realise you are stooping and now the old back is aching.
I don't think there is an ideal height because sooner or later that's going to change anyway.

 

[richardbees]

It's a serious subject and imo not covered enough. I now follow Ted Hooper's advice that the top of the brood box should be at the height of your lowered arms with hands loosely clasped i.e just below waist height.
Each of my hive stands is a 5ft pair of 2" x 2" rails so roof, supers etc can be lifted off and placed alongside without having to bend down.....simple but it really makes a difference.

 

[victor meldrew]

I've posted this before . The table at the rear of the hive has a perforated top!
I move down the row as I visit each hive .

I use the 'cold way' configuration for my convenience., along with my wife , I on one side, she ont'other, we lift the supers with minimum effort
VM


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[Amari]

Is it the lifting or is it more to do with being stooped over?

I was just wondering because it's one of the drawbacks with my job ....stuck in position, often very awkward, for extended periods. All seems fine but then you realise you are aching and move but it does not help.
I find the same with my bees, far away lifting frames and then you realise you are stooping and now the old back is aching.
I don't think there is an ideal height because sooner or later that's going to change anyway.

I think my symptoms are caused by the stooping. Lifting is no problem

 

[Ely]

I often find that my back aches are due to lack of exercise which a few days of brisk half hour walks usually cure. Fan of hive stands though as low level hive inspection always gets me.

Same here. Regurlar exercise and it disappears. I usually get back pain if I am sat around for long periods of time.

 

[susbees]

Hives just above ground level sometimes get over head height, and I'm a six footer, how does this number of supers work with tall stands?

Most of my tall ones are on OSR so on pallets....but the same thing on permanent stands: place colony on pallet in front of stand when it gets above two supers? (otherwise I end up straddling the long bars of the stands which is plain daft)

 

[Norton Caff]

Looking at this from a different angle (puns intended). My back pain when I inspect my hives is often due to leaning closer to see better. I.e bad eyesight. It's a habit I have developed over the years even though my sight is allegedly corrected. Are you peering at your bees?