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Back Injuries: Reduce Your Risk at Work

Home > News > Back Injuries: Reduce Your Risk at Work
Posted: Jul 1, 2018 | by Alice | 0 Comment

orthopaedic injuries, spine center, spine specialists, spinal stenosis, Virginia Orthopaedic & Spine SpecialistsWhether it’s the way you sit in front of a computer or lift heavy boxes, how you perform your job can affect your risk for back injuries.

Back injuries are common. Eighty percent of adults experience low-back pain at least once in their life. Back injury is the top reason people have a job-related disability. It’s also a leading contributor to missed work days.

Fortunately, if you’re careful and pay attention to your body, you can lower your risk for getting injured at work.

If you do get injured, make sure to see an orthopaedic specialist. Sometimes, all you need is rest to heal and feel better. However, it’s best to rule out any serious injuries. You should immediately seek help if your pain is so severe that you can’t move or if the pain goes down your leg. Other serious injury symptoms are having numbness, fever, nausea, weakness, loss of bladder or bowel control and no sign of improvement after a couple weeks.

Here are four of the top ways people injure themselves at work:

Awkward Posture

Your body posture determines which joints and muscles are used and the amount of force that is generated. Whether standing or sitting, there is a neutral position for your back. Postures that differ from the neutral position increase stress on the back, especially when combined with other risk factors. You should avoid: bending forward while lifting, repeated bending, twisting and reaching and any strenuous activity while the body is in a twisted or bent position.

 Overexertion

Tasks that require forceful exertions place higher loads on the muscles, discs, ligaments and joints and can lead to fatigue and injury.

Prevention tips for overexertion include:

  • Use material handling devices, such as dollies, carts, wheel barrows, lift trucks and skid loaders.
  • Divide the load for safer transport.
  • Push materials rather than lift.
  • Ask a coworker to assist your lift.

Fatigue

When you’re tired, it’s easy to hurt yourself. You’re more likely to use improper form for lifting, for example. To keep this from happening, take time to stretch during your breaks. If you stand a lot, try to sit down during your break. Alternative tasks and postures that use different motions and muscle groups.

Repetition

Repeating the same motions over and over again places stress on muscles and joints. If repetitive motions are frequent or sustained and combined with excessive force or awkward postures, they can cause injury. Alternate tasks and postures that use different motions and muscle groups.

Reduce your injury from repetition by:

  • Take time to stretch during scheduled breaks.
  • Use material handling devices, such as dollies, carts, skid loaders and lift trucks.
  • Wear non-slip footwear.
  • Keep steps on tractors and loaders clean and dry, to reduce the risk of back injuries from falls.
  • Dress appropriately for the temperature.
  • Wear hearing protection, as needed, to minimize stress from excess noise levels

Source: Occupational Safety and Health Administration

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+ Do you have back and neck pain? Learn when it’s important to seek a medical evaluation. Many patients can be treated without surgery at The Spine Center of Hampton Roads.

 

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