Avoiding Back Injuries At Work

High-impact labor jobs can cause back pain, as well as jobs that require sitting all day. Nowadays, everyone is at risk of developing some form of back pain at their place of work. Here are a few tips for avoiding back injuries at work. It does not matter what an individual does for a living, or how it is done. Sitting, standing, lifting, bending, twisting, reaching, pulling, and pushing, all can have a negative impact on the spine’s health and the muscles in the back.   According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration or OSHA, work-related musculoskeletal disorders are a common reason for missing work or restricting work time. Back pain and injury prevention/avoiding is the goal along with seeking the proper treatment as soon as possible.  

The Risk for Back Pain

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders that affect the spine are a worldwide problem. The World Health Organization has stated in the United States that there is an estimated 149 million workdays lost every year because of back pain, with total costs estimated to be around 100-200 billion a year. And the World Health Organization identified low back pain as the leading cause of disability in the world. The National Institute for Occupations Safety and Health, which is a division of the CDC, listed five primary risk conditions for work-related musculoskeletal disorders:

• Regularly lifting of objects
• Regular exposure to whole-body vibration like using a jackhammer or driving a forklift
• Regular reaching overhead work
• Working with the spine in a chronic flexion position
• Repetitive work/tasks

Office Back Pain

Individuals that stare at screens most of the day means their spines are at risk for cervical spinal flexion. This can lead to neck, shoulder, and upper back pain. And sitting for long bouts of time with poor posture adds tremendous pressure and weight on the low back. When the body is seated for a long time, the body is not utilizing its core abdominal muscles and back muscles that keep the body and foundation strong and flexible. The more these muscles are under-utilized the more the body begins to fall into the vicious cycle of slouching, slumping, poor posture, and increased stress on the back muscles.  

Avoiding Back Injury

With advancements in medicine, there are solutions for relieving pain and getting an individual back to regular work activity. Basic ways for avoiding injuries and keeping the spine healthy.

• Lifting with the legs and not the back
• Maintaining healthy weight
• Healthy diet
• Stretching before physical activity and also during work will keep the muscles active and optimal circulation
• Overall physical fitness like taking a walk
• Knowing when to rest giving the body a break
• Focus on recovery during off-hours

Working with Spine Specialists

If the pain is constant or there is a high possibility of an injury, see a medical professional. The correct diagnosis leads to the right treatment, which can include:

• Rest
• Physical therapy
• Chiropractic
• Pain management
• Medication
• Injections
• Surgery

There is no one-size-fits-all approach. Every individual will have a personalized treatment plan. A multi-approach is recommended, and the most therapeutic for long-term benefits. One treatment option to be very cautious about is opioids. A review in BMJ suggests opioids do not help individuals get back to work faster, and pain control is only short-term. Back pain inflammation is better addressed through anti-inflammatory medication, physical therapy, and exercise. If pain or a back problem currently exists, see a doctor, chiropractor, or spine specialist and find out about treatment options and avoiding back problems.

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Body Composition

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How Aging Affects the Body

The body’s muscles are constantly being broken down and repaired. When the muscles are used, microscopic tears happen from the regular wear and tear. This means rebuilding those tears with protein. However, as the body gets older, it stops rebuilding the muscles as efficiently. With time, there is a reduction in overall muscle mass and strength. That loss can come from a combination of factors including:

• Hormone changes – for example, testosterone gradually decreases
• Physical inactivity
• Comorbid conditions like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer

But this reduction in muscle mass doesn’t just happen to the elderly. Research has shown that strength and development in an individual’s 20s peaks and begins to plateau in their 30s. For many, decreased strength translates to being less active, and routine activities become more difficult to execute. Inactivity means fewer calories burned, muscle development decrease, and negative changes to body composition including muscle loss, and percent body fat increase.  

Dr. Alex Jimenez’s Blog Post Disclaimer

The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas& New Mexico*  

References

“Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders & Ergonomics.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA. www.cdc.gov/workplacehealthpromotion/health-strategies/musculoskeletal-disorders/index.html OSHA Technical Manual, Section VII, Chapter 1: Back Disorders and Injuries. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Washington, DC. www.osha.gov/dts/osta/otm/otm_vii/otm_vii_1.html#3 “Cervical spine joint loading with neck flexion.” Ergonomics. January 2020. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31594480/ “Back to Health.” Safety & Health. The National Safety Council, Itasca, IL. www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/18897-back-to-health