Back Pain Prevention and Management: Small Efforts Yield Big Dividends
January 26, 2007
Back pain resulting from sprains and strains is among the top causes of lost
workdays. And as the workforce ages, this trend is likely to continue. However,
by implementing low cost measures, including workplace education, employers can
expect to effectively manage and even prevent the majority of painful episodes.
Experts tell us that most people who suffer back pain * recover with little or no intervention within a few weeks-long enough for productivity to suffer as well. However, since current medical practice encourages people with back pain to be as active as possible, they often can return to work sooner. To further expedite healing, employers can take these steps:
- Encourage activity. Movement helps stretch muscles and improve circulation.
- Make reasonable accommodations. Alternately raising one foot on a low platform during prolonged standing relieves pressure on the spine.
- Revise schedules. Working part-time temporarily benefits worker and employer.
Of course, preventing back injury remains job one. Yet employers often fail to appreciate the relationship between back pain and psychological factors. "When people feel stressed, they tense their muscles, which leads to back as well as neck and shoulder pain," says Bobbi Johnson, MS, health educator, Inova HealthSource. "And when people feel rushed, they tend to forget about proper body mechanics and are more likely to suffer an injury."
Johnson advises employers who see a disproportionate number of back problems to evaluate the stress level in their workplace and consider stress-reduction measures. Also, because anxiety, boredom and job dissatisfaction can affect how workers carry out their responsibilities as well as how their body responds to the demands of the job, improving workplace morale can help.
Physical factors also play an important role in preventing back injury. Incorrect sitting or standing, just as much as improper bending and heavy lifting, exerts undue stress on the lower back, where muscles tend to be weak. Employers may want to consider these preventative measures:
- Open the lines of communication. Encourage workers to identify potential problem areas and suggestions for improvements.
- Encourage physical activity and a healthy weight. Promote lunchtime walking groups.Offer in-house exercise programs or discounts at local gyms.
- Encourage smoke-cessation. Remind workers that in depriving the body of oxygen, smoking damages spinal disks, which further weakens the back.
- Encourage frequent breaks. Link workers to computer programs that offer hourly reminders to get up and stretch.
- Teach proper posture ('think tall'). Remind workers to sit with their lower back pressed firmly against the chair (A cushion or small pillow can help support the natural curve in the lower back.), thighs parallel to the floor or slightly lower, and both feet flat on the floor or a platform, if needed.
- Teach safe lifting techniques. Remind workers to keep their back straight, bend from the knees and hips, and avoid twisting.
- Provide adequate coverage for holidays and absence. Ensure that individual workers never do the handling and lifting normally done by a team.
Employers may find it cost-effective to assign instructional tasks to professional health educators who can supply the necessary tools to promote and reinforce these back-saving messages.
*The following symptoms, which may occur along with back pain, require immediate medical attention: numbness or tingling in the legs, sudden numbness in the groin, difficulty controlling bowels or bladder.
Inova Workplace Health Services offers a variety of customized programs,
including stress management, back health education, smoke-cessation, yoga and
Pilates that promote back health. For more information, contact Inova
HealthSource at 703-208-5622.
Articles are written by professional journalists, who strive to present reliable health information. They are not intended to be a substitute for medical care and advice.
