Is Back Pain Hurting your Company? Ways to Address it

Amongst conditions like cancer, tuberculosis, cardiac arrest, depression, back pain seems like something trivial to worry about, but much to everyone’s surprise, it has become one of the leading causes of disabilities in the world.

Each one us experience back pain at some point in our lives. In the US, four out of five people experience back pain at some point, and the British economy losses about £3 billion every year to it, demonstrating its seriousness.

Clubbed with obesity, chronic fatigue, and depression, the rising rate in cases of back pain can be partly attributed to lifestyle changes. We are now continuously in front of screens, surrounded by the digital world, be it at work using PCs or our gadgets at home. Poor postures, swelling use of gadgets, unhealthy lifestyle choices have all aggravated the problem.

Is Back pain hurting the back of your company? Let’s get to know what causes it, and how we can get rid of it

What Is Lower Back Pain (LBL)?

Lower back pain is stiffness, pain, or muscle tension between the buttocks and lower chest region. It is classified as specific and non-specific, the specific aspect is attributed to pain due to an identifiable cause, like arthritis, inflammation, osteoporosis, etc. while the non-specific has no anatomical cause.

Causes

• Poor postures.
• Prolonged use of gadgets.
• Unhealthy lifestyle- smoking, poor nutritional diet, obesity, sedentary habits, etc.
• Repetitive job tasks involving operating machines that vibrate, Lifting heavy loads.
• Poor ergonomics.
• Stress and anxiety.
• Medical reasons.

Classification

• Acute LBL- It is when the pain is in its initial stage, i.e., within a month since the onset. Correcting postures and movements can help it from aggravating.
• Sub-acute LBL- It is when the pain has lasted a month and continuing. An unhealthy lifestyle pattern, poor posture, lack of change to movement can contribute to take it further.
• Chronic LBL- When the pain lasts for more than 3 months, it is considered chronic and treated by a therapist.

Remedies

• Proper Posture A right posture is essential to keep your body healthy. It helps in working productively with less strain to the body muscles and spine.

Tips for correct posture while working

• Your elbows should be at the height of your keyboard, so keep your chair adjusted according to that.
• Your screen’s top should lie approximately at your eye level.
• Keep a distance of about 40-76 between you and your monitor, not to strain your eyes.
• Do not slouch. Keep your elbows close to your body and shoulders relaxed.

Related article: Anatomy of Posture at Work

Yoga

Yoga has proven to be tremendously helpful when it comes to healing the body. According to numerous studies, this breathing, stretching, and relaxation techniques work tremendously well to discipline the body and mind.

Therapy and A Positive Outlook

Therapies and a positive outlook regarding recovery aid well in healing as the mindsets course for the body.

Limited Usage of Gadgets

Excessive use of phone or other gadgets can contribute to poor spine health in a big way. Too much slouching and unhealthy body postures caused when using your tabs cause strain to your muscles, consequently leading to spinal degeneration.

Sleeping Patterns

It is crucial to sleep on a mattress that supports your body well. A good mattress maintains the natural alignment of the spine, consequently aiding in healthy body mechanics.

Lifestyle Choices

Smoking reduces bone density, causing osteoporosis. Follow a healthy diet and exercise well to walk towards a healthy life. Keep your body hydrated and mind stress-free.

Corporate Health Programs

Wellness programs will go a long way to make your employees feel healthier. According to numerous studies, Investing in wellness initiatives reduces absenteeism, presentism, and enhances productivity.

Ergonomics

A healthy work environment will go a long way to being healthy.

Passive Treatment

Ice packs/heat packs often heal hassle-free.

Truworth wellness boasts of a line of wellness experts. If your organization is going through the “back pain” menace, let us serve you with our broad range of corporate wellness programs, customized for you.