- Back pain is the single leading cause of disability in the world. In fact, around 31 million Americans experience back pain at any given time.
- Back injuries account for more than 264 million lost work days in any given year.
- 80% of people will seek medical attention for back pain at some point in their lives
- Workers who use back supports, reduce the chance of injury by 34%
Common Causes of Back Pain
- Exerting too much force on your back, such as lifting, pushing or pulling heavy loads
- Performing repetitive tasks especially those with stretching, reaching and twisting of the spin
- Inactivity, including desk jobs and driving for long hours
Prevention of Occupational Back Pain
Preventing back pain can be difficult as risk factors and causes are not properly understood. In most cases, back pain is addressed only after one has suffered a back injury.
However, prevention can be broken down into three categories.
Primary Prevention (before incident)
Primary prevention aims to decrease the chance and eliminate back pain before it occurs. It is the most common strategy by employers, teaching workers about the causes and risk factors of certain activities that could lead to back injuries.
Using proper lifting techniques, activity limitations and safety equipment are the crucial components of Primary Prevention. These include using a straight posture, implementing maximum weight lifting limit and using Industrial Work Belts. Industrial belts put pressure on the abdomen which then takes the burden off your spine and redistributes it across your whole back, making it easier to lift heavy loads or sit for continuous hours.
Secondary Prevention (recurrence of symptoms)
This involves the minimization of pain and disabilities in people who already suffer from recurring symptoms. Treatment must be carefully analyzed as overtreatment like more than two days of bed rest can worsen the pain. While at the same time, over-exercising can further worsen your case. Regularly exercising such as swimming and walking have shown to be the most beneficial forms of secondary prevention.
Tertiary Prevention (reducing disability)
Workers who are returning to work after experiencing long term pain or injuries must follow through with tertiary prevention. Employers must be able to modify work to accommodate the worker's pain. Workers should enroll in rehabilitation programs and actively work to reduce the chances of more extreme injuries and pain. Bio-Magnetic Therapy Belts are highly recommended by physicians as the best drug-free alternative for pain management.
