Do you Know the Number One Cause of Disabilities at Work? Everyone knows that no matter what type of job you do, there is some health risk involved.
The number one culprit for health problems which occurs at work is not carpal tunnel syndrome, it's not the flu, and it's not anything to do with mental health, either.
The number one problem in the work force, the biggest problem faced by both employers and employees, is back pain.
It's likely that back pain is responsible for more missed days of work than any other health issue because of the many ways in which back pain can occur.
Once an individual feels this pain, it can be difficult if not impossible to continue a "regular" pattern of life, at least until the pain is abated.
The more intense the job is, the truer this rule becomes.
Let's take a look at some of the many things which can lead to back pain.
· Slips and falls: A fall at work, of any kind, is likely to see an individual take the weight of their body, times gravity's pull, all on their back.
It's a big shock to the system, and can really bend the lumbar region.
· Lifting: One of the two biggest threats to the backs of workers all over the nation is incorrect lifting, or lifting amounts which are too heavy for them.
· Pushing and pulling: While people are becoming more aware of the dangers of heavy lifting, pushing and pulling objects is still off the radar.
However, just as with lifting, incorrect pushing and pulling can lead to unnecessary strain on the lumbar region, which will result in muscular imbalance, signified by back pain.
· Repetitive motion: Many jobs require a worker to do the same thing, day in and day out.
Using the same muscles, joints, and bones to do this can mean those features of the body start to feel wear faster than other parts.
· Poor posture: There is a reason why piano teachers insist on having their students sit with their backs perfectly straight, and it's not to help the music.
Having your back curved for any length of time also results in an imbalance of the muscles and bones of the back, putting more strain on the lower back, which is already taking a lot of the body weight anyway.
Prevention is Key If there is a bright spot to back injuries at work, it is that they are avoidable, for the most part.
A combination of education and equipment can help alleviate a lot of the stress put on the lower back region (where 90% of all back pain occurs).
Employers are becoming more educated about the causes of back pain and ways to avoid it.
Passing the knowledge on to employees means a more productive work environment, not to mention a lot less money paid out to compensation and safety boards (or legal fees) each year.
The focus of all education on back pain prevention should be on alleviating the stress felt by the lower back in all of the situations above.
Lifting should be done with the legs, not with the back.
You know you are doing this by where you feel the most pressure as you lift.
You will also be keeping your back straight the entire time you life the object, with only your legs bent.
This helps keep the back straight, which means the work done to lift the extra weight is distributed evenly.
Both employers and employees should ensure that anything which needs to be lifted around the work place is properly labeled, or the weight otherwise made known.
Don't lift it if it is beyond your capabilities, just ask someone else to help you.
Ergonomic furniture and equipment Another important thing to incorporate in your work routine is ergonomic equipment and furniture.
These pieces are designed particularly to alleviate stress on certain parts of the body, in this case the back.
Chairs are made so that the person in them sits up straight, while equipment such as a back brace will add a lot of support to the back of a person in a repetitive job or one which requires heavy lifting.
For some people, knowledge of back pain at work may have come too late and you are already experiencing chronic back pain.
If that's the case, there are a variety of treatments and corrective exercises you can undergo to alleviate the pain.
We will take a look at those in detail, as well as different types of back pain, in subsequent articles.
Please visit us at www.
sorebackrelief.
com.