Many American workers experience chronic occupational back pain.
In fact, back pain accounts for one in five injuries in the workplace. Approximately one million of these types of injuries are sustained each year in America. More than $50 billion is spent each year trying to treat back pain.
Employees can suffer back injury in any type of industry, but nursing, construction, and factory work are the leading culprits. Often, these injuries occur due to exerting too much force on your back, repetition, or inactivity due to a desk job.
Below are four tips to help prevent this painful type of injury:
Stretch
Every morning, no matter what type of job you do, consider stretching to help your muscles prepare for the day’s work. Stretching will help make it less likely that you’ll pull a back muscle.
Lift safely
When lifting heavy objects, start in a stable position and plan your lift. Keep the load close to your waist and your back as straight as possible. Avoid twisting and distribute the weight evenly.
Take regular breaks
Give your back an occasional rest from sitting and lifting. Take regular breaks and make certain that you don’t continue straining if you’re feeling fatigued.
Sit properly in your chair
Break up sedentary time every 30 minutes for at least two minutes. Make certain that you have good posture, that your chair is in an appropriate position, and that the height of your chair is correct in relation to your keyboard.
If you do experience a back injury, consider seeing a doctor. For chronic back pain in the workplace, some experts suggest the following: “For back pain that lasts more than six weeks, treatment typically involves a combination of painkillers and either acupuncture, exercise classes or manual therapy.”
If you’re planning to file a workers’ compensation claim for your back injury, be sure to check out our related post: How to Avoid These 5 Costly Worker’s Compensation Mistakes.