Any tips on sifting without hurting your back?

[TRexEliot]

I was at big brook a couple weeks ago, and I'm pretty sure I ruptured a disc after three days of pretty intense hunting/sifting. I'm only 30, and I'd like to not completely ruin my back from this hobby (and I'd like to be able to keep hunting just as much without needing to cut back). Anyone with back troubles have any tips on what tools to use/things to bring (maybe chairs (buckets), benches, etc.) to bring to avoid ruining my back from hunting?

[R0b]

Having a desk job myself and a poor back I found that the only thing that improves my back issues is exercise, so I go to the gym. But I have seen people use tables or a trestle to bring the work to a more comfortable height.

[TRexEliot]

Unfortunately, I work out every other day, and doesn't seem to have done me much good.

[Balance]

Is big brook a dry land sifting situation or a floating sifter? 
 

@dries85 has a thread on TFF and his sifter is featured often.  Perfect dry land application to avoid the “hold it out while looking down” situation. 
 

In water, just flip your sieve over if it’s not deep enough to have it floating at your level.Working inside the basket means you gotta hold it out of the water to look. You don’t have to hold it just above the water this way and that’s honestly the worst part for you. Just toss stuff off and push it down and let it pop back up to clear sand and stuff. 
 

Here’s a good example of working on your sieve in water vrs in your sieve. Same sieves. Just upside down. 

 

Jp

[Fossildude19]

@Balance

 

Big Brook is usually no more than a few feet deep (2, maybe?) where you sift, so, usually on dry land or in shallow water - hence the back issues.

There are rules in place where your sifter should be no more than 16 x 16 at most, I believe.  (Not sure on exact measurements.)

Shovels are discouraged, as well.

 

So, small sifter, shallow water, and not a lot of land on the sides to really work on - high banks in places. All make for less than optimal sifting conditions. 

 

The only thing I could really  recommend is possible a stand of some sort, made from light materials (PVC pipe? Aluminum? ) that could be easily moved from area to area.

[Jaybot]

I've heard of people using rocking sifters of various designs.  Some actually have a base like a rocking chair.

Here's a pic of a different design I found on the web:

 

[C2fossils]

As @Jaybot said you could go with a rocking sifter and I found this old topic that @ScottM made.

 

[dries85]

Here's what i use for dry sifting..

 

It's actually a double box, so it's easy to empty after sifting. I also made it demountable so it's easier to carry around on longer walks. Here's what it looked like when i first made it.

 

Eventually i added an extra bar on the bottom to prevent it from sinking in the ground. It has some flaws tho.. it takes about 10 minutes to assemble and take apart, which isn't a problem when you've found a good spot, but often a pain when you have to relocate. Also having 2 legs means it can take a huge load (4-5 shovels), but sometimes one leg sinks in the ground faster than the other. I've seen sifters with one pole in the middle, which also makes them easier rockable, but they only take half the load. Never thought about it, but i guess it could also work in the water..

[Yoda]

12 hours ago, TRexEliot said:

I was at big brook a couple weeks ago, and I'm pretty sure I ruptured a disc after three days of pretty intense hunting/sifting. I'm only 30, and I'd like to not completely ruin my back from this hobby (and I'd like to be able to keep hunting just as much without needing to cut back). Anyone with back troubles have any tips on what tools to use/things to bring (maybe chairs (buckets), benches, etc.) to bring to avoid ruining my back from hunting?

There must be some exercises that one can do to improve the strength of your back and core muscles, and reduce the chance of back ache. 

Perhaps a physio could help with that 

[Shellseeker]

So, 

EVERY back is different.. I have more back problems that I can count.  Get yourself to a back doctor  who takes an xray, MRI scan, CAT scan of your spine and tells you exactly what is wrong or right with it.

So,  For me...

1) Dig in deep water, above the waist if possible!  It is aerobic exercise and actually helps my back.

2) Most of my problems are caused by the almost constant bending of my head to stare down into the screen.. That is because my cervicals have issues. The more I bend my Head_neck down, the greater the pain over time... 

[aplomado]

I hurt my lower back last year.  Injections didn't help.  PT didn't help.  Believe it or not, a chriopractor helped me a lot.  In addition to manipulations, he had me doing lots of exceriszes and stretches daily, and it worked.  It took about two months of seeing him and doing these excersizes to get substantial relief.  I have to keep them up a few times a week or it starts up again.

 

He had me do each of the following 2x daily

 

Flexion (cat) 20 seconds followed by Extension (cow) 20 seconds, three times;

right lateral flexion (20 seconds) followed by left lateral flexion (20 seconds), three times; 

right rotation (use chair) 20 seconds followed by left rotation (use chair)  20 seconds, three times

 

Crunches, straight and oblique, 30x or to fatigue

Side lying planks, both legs up, 30x for each side or to fatigue

Side lying leg raises 30x each side or to fatigue

pelvic bridge 30x 

[fossil35]

Other then what people have said already and finding out what the problem is.  If think its muscles you can use heat on back. If its any thing like I have with the back there isn't much can do but what others said of excises and can try using cold packs before and after doing anything to help with the inflammation.

[Jaybot]

2 hours ago, aplomado said:

Believe it or not, a chriopractor helped me a lot.

I agree, chiropractors are the way to go when it comes to back and other joint issues.

[Pagurus]

Much of Big Brook is shallow water and I've seen several fossil hunters sitting on overturned 5-gallon buckets. I haven't tried it yet but it looks like a good idea. I often wear an elastic back brace for my lower back to help a little with the strain. Good luck.

[Balance]

@Fossildude19 does this count if you only use an 18” sifter? 😉
 

[Fossildude19]

2 hours ago, Balance said:

@Fossildude19 does this count if you only use an 18” sifter? 😉