Have you ever experienced a low, throbbing lower back pain?
If you do, you’re not alone. According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, one in four adults over the age of 18 suffers from back pain. Many of them are so crippled by the pain that they are unable to perform their everyday tasks.
Did you know that back pain is one of the most common work-related injuries? Despite this, most workers feel embarrassment and fear whenever they want to convey their concern in the workplace. According to a study in the United Kingdom, the greatest work-related challenges for back pain sufferers include:
- Fear of not being taken seriously while conveying back pain concerns to colleagues and superiors
- Anxiety about their productivity and ability to work in the future
- Coping with flare-ups while on the job
- Medication concerns, and
- The consequences of being late or taking time off because of the pain.
Back Pain’s Toll on Work Productivity
Common work-related conditions, such as back pain and headaches, cost employers billions of pounds, euros, dollars and Swiss franks every year. These conditions cause employees to come in late, do less work, or call in sick every day. The American Productivity Audit conducts national surveys to determine how much of an impact these conditions have on employee productivity. For Europe the European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS 2010) maintains that the 2 biggest problems at the workplace are musculoskeletal problems: more than 25% of the working population suffer from back pain and more than 23% suffer from muscular pains. Unfortunately it hasn't gotten better: the 7th EWCS (in its 1st results from 2020) states an even increased incidence of musculoskeletal diseases.
Tips for Treating Back Pain
Back pain occurs on many individuals on a daily basis. The actual cause of this condition is difficult to determine, but there are some tips for its prevention and relief. Back pain can be treated without spending a lot of money, taking copious amounts of medication, or consuming hours of treatment.
To prevent back pain flare-ups, ergonomics is crucial. Your office chair must have enough padding, adjustable height, and proper and well-distributed support. Do not slouch while you are seated. Practice good posture whenever possible. Driving or riding in a car can trigger flare-ups as well. To prevent this from happening, adjust your seat so you don’t have to stretch or slouch to reach the pedals and the steering wheel.
Are you overweight? Losing a few pounds may be beneficial. When you are overweight, your centre of gravity may shift, causing your back to support extra weight. This may give you backache.
Repetitive stress injuries RSI should be avoided at all costs. Over time, they may develop into more serious, difficult-to-treat problems. Do not sit or stand in one position for prolonged periods. Shift, take short walks, and stretch whenever you can.
Study Motion Mastery, participate in a Workshop, meet Ulf and make an appointment. Learning how to get rid of the built-up tension in your body may help alleviate pain and make your movements easier. It is one of the best ways to solve body problems, and will be especially beneficial for back pain sufferers. And there are further ways like chiropractic treatment or osteopathy and other efffective methods to manage and treat existing back pain
Coping With Back Pain at Work
Back pain is a common phenomenon, yet poses critical consequences for a worker’s health and productivity. It is not a good idea to suffer in silence, because this may prevent you from getting physical and emotional relief. The best way to break this cycle is to see a doctor and work out a treatment plan. With effective measures to prevent back pain flare-ups, you can be as effective and productive as you once were!
