By Principle Four Osteopathy

05/31/2011
Did you know that strains and sprains account for 30% of injuries in the workplace, followed by chronic joint and muscle conditions at18%? The most common cause of injury in the workplace reveals manual handling (lifting, pushing, pulling, carrying, putting down and moving) to be involved in 27% of workplace injuries. Whether you work in an industrial setting or office environment, we all carry out manual handling tasks on a day to day basis and therefore we are all at risk of hurting injuring ourselves.

Back pain is probably one of the most common injuries that we suffer from, with roughly 4 out of 5 people suffering from back pain at least once in their lifetime. Generally speaking we all know of someone who has had an acute episode of back pain that has rendered us helpless. Typically this person might have to take a few days to a week off work and slowly but surely they will begin to improve and move a little better until they are back to their normal selves a couple of weeks later. So what causes this back pain?

The cause of back pain is not simple and there are multiple factors contributing. Ones previous medical history, heredity, age, occupation, fitness level, smoking and other diseases are all risk factors for back pain.

In the workplace we often assume that we will only hurt our back if we are lifting a big heavy object. This is simply not true. There are countless anecdotal examples where someone has simply leant over to pick up a pen off the ground or reach across their desk to move an object and their back goes. Whilst there is often one incident whereby the individual suffers an acute strain or sprain, often it is the cumulative stresses placed on the body’s tissues over time that leads to that one particular moment of agony. When it comes to risk factors for injury in the workplace, factors such as excess tension, lack of variety, excess or prolonged muscle force, awkward postures, insufficient rest and repetition can increase ones risk of injury.

The most common poor lifting techniques observed in the workplace typically involve the following.

Stooping – Bending right down towards the ground from the waist without bending the hips and knees places a much greater load on the lower back, therefore increasing ones risk of strains and sprains to the back and associated areas.

Twisting – Excessive twisting of the spine whilst lifting places extra stress on the back and surrounding areas. Twisting combined with stooping is very much a combined movement that the back does not like to do under excessive load or repetitively.

Over reaching – Reaching and stretching to your limit places even further stress on the back and surrounding areas.

So what can we do to improve our lifting technique and reduce the risk of back pain in the workplace when lifting? Observe the following where possible.

Assess – Assess the environment you are in and what you need to lift or move. A quick review of the surroundings and analysis of the task at hand could save you a lot of time and pain. If lifting aids are available then use these. Think about where you have to move the object from and to and how this can be best done for your body in a safe way. Often we are in such a rush that we have actually picked up the object and began to move before we have thought about what the best way to do it is.

Feet close to the object – Keeping your feet relatively close to the object will ensure that you will be minimizing the strain on the body when picking it up. There is such as thing as being too close to the load when carrying out manual handling, so be careful to allow enough space to do it safely.

Bend the knees and hips in a semi squat position – Use the body parts that we were given to help reduce the strain on the body. A partial bend through the knees and hips will help to reduce stooping through the back and therefore reduce the risk of back pain or injuries elsewhere.

Keep your spine straight – It is almost impossible to keep the spine straight when lifting and this has been shown in many studies. However, aim to keep it relatively upright so that gravity is loaded vertically to reduce the load on the back.

Have a good grip – Make sure you have secured the object properly. Last thing you want to do is feel like you are losing your grip and going to drop the object. It’s these types of situations where you are much more likely to hurt yourself.

Keep the object you are lifting close to the body – An object held out away from the body is much heavier and harder to carry than one that is next to your torso or stomach. Keep the object close to your body to reduce the load and strain on your body.

If you have suffered from back pain or an injury at work then it is important to seek medical help and adjust your current work situation to allow for a safe and speedy recovery. When it comes to returning from work after injury, there is a misconception that you need to be pain free before you return to work from injury.
Generally speaking some pain is expected and an early return to work improves ones prognosis. If you are returning to work after injury it is suggested that you consult with your occupational health and safety representative or human resources to discuss a return to work program. Often your general practitioner or physiotherapist or osteopath might be involved in this process to help ensure a safe and speedy recovery.

It has been shown that typically following injury, the longer somebody is off work due to lower back pain, the greater the risk of chronic pain and disability. An employee with back pain that has been off work for 4 – 12 weeks is much more likely to be off work 1 year after the injury than someone that has only had a few days to a week off work from back pain. An active rehabilitation program can result in a faster return to work, less chronic disability and absenteeism from work.

Written by Heath Williams Osteopath

Principle Four Osteopathy
www.principle4.com
29 Somerset Place
Melbourne City CBD 3000
03 9670 9290

Corporate Work Health Australia Pty Ltd
www.corporateworkhealth.com
Director & Osteopath

References:

http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/4823.0.55.001