Is Your Job in Vacaville Hurting Your Back?

There are several one-time "accidents" that can hurt your lower back in Vacaville. This could be due to improperly lifting heavy objects, overexert yourself in certain sports, or even sleeping in a position that strains your back.

However, a study has shown that the usual things you do at work could be the cause of your low back pain. This study particularly looked at the relationship between persistent low back pain and female healthcare workers who were responsible for lifting and handling patients. If ever that is true for your case, then you should talk to your doctor about it so that certain precautionary measures could be established to avoid the risk.

How the study was conducted

Researchers have looked at women who worked with elderly individuals in healthcare settings. These women were divided into 2 groups: those who had sub-chronic low back pain and those without lower back pain. The women were asked about how many patients require handling activities they take care of each day. They were also asked about the number of days they experienced their low back pain.

With the help of statistics, the researchers have determined the odds that a woman would develop persistent low back pain based on the number of patient-handling activities she performed. Persistent low back pain means having more than 30 days of pain over the past years.

What the researchers found

The results of the study showed the link between lower back pain and patient-handling duties in women who had sub-chronic low back pain at the start of the study. The odds of these women with low back pain increased with the number of patient-handling activities they had to do. This link has not been found in women who did not have a history of low back pain.

What this low back pain study means for Vacaville Back Pain Sufferers

People working in healthcare environments that require lifting and handling patients should follow precautionary measures to protect their back. The authors of the study argue that patient-handling activities should maintain a number lower than 10 each day particularly for those who have sub-chronic low back pain.

However, individuals in any job who worry about how their daily tasks would affect their back health should talk to their doctor on ways to reduce the risk for a back injury.

Here are a few options available that can prevent low back pain:

• Watchful waiting: If the back pain is just mild, it can go away on its own without the need for treatment.
• Ergonomics: This involves thinking about the things you do with your body all day, such as standing or sitting for too long as well as lifting inappropriately. The things you can do to prevent back pain should go double for those who are already experiencing it.
• Physiotherapy: A therapist can help you cope and identify your pain if it is stress-related. A deep understanding of the physiological causes of your back pain can go a long way in relieving your discomfort.
• Physical therapy: Doing stretching and exercises that can manage back pain should be strictly followed. You can do this with the help of a physical therapist, or you can simply do it at home especially if you have been taught properly on how to do it. Make sure you continue your stretching and exercises even after feeling better so that it could help prevent another back injury.

If you need more help and require some tips for your low back pain, then the people at Absolute Integrative Physical Medicine in Vacaville, CA can help you with that. Just dial (707) 474-5688 to get more tips and have your low back pain managed in the earliest time possible.