The Surprising Answer to Back Pain at Work

Whatever type of pain it entails and whatever the cause, back pain can definitely make it very difficult for you to focus on your work, thus affecting your productivity. The bad news is that a majority of modern occupations can place some considerable demands on your back, and routine office work is probably among the most common culprits for back pain. That may have come as a surprise to you, but it is unfortunately very true. Sitting at an office desk all day making repetitive movements can definitely take a huge toll on your back.

In order to deal with back pain effectively, and to prevent it from recurring, you will have to gain a better understanding of what causes it in the first place. There are several factors that can possibly contribute to back pain at work, and these factors can be categorized into four general back pain causes, namely: Force, repetition, stress, and posture. Learning how these factors affect your back and finding ways of reversing that effect is your best bet towards alleviating back pain.

When you exert too much force on your back such as when you lift or move heavy objects, you can cause back injury if you’re not careful. Needless to say, back injuries can be excruciatingly painful. To avoid such pain, you need to learn proper lifting techniques and use a back support device like a lumbar belt. Remember to bend from the knees and use the strength of your legs when lift. Injuries often occur when you bend from the waist and lift with your back.

For those whose work does not involve much lifting, but entails performing repetitive movements, back pain can occur as a result of muscle fatigue. This is especially true if you constantly use awkward body positions at work. For example, when you hold the phone between your ear and the crook of your shoulder so you can continue doing paperwork, you are actually causing some muscle strain. Tilting your head up or down while working at the computer has the same effect. Use a headphone and make sure that your computer monitor is at eye level to prevent muscle fatigue and back pain.

Our stress level often goes up at work, and this can cause your muscles to tighten, which can cause or aggravate back pain. You may want to practice some breathing techniques to relieve stress, or take short breaks once in a while to do a bit of stretching, so as to loosen up tense muscles.

Finally, let’s talk about how posture can affect your back. When you slouch in your office chair all day, you are actually misaligning your spine, which can cause muscle injury leading to back pain. Make sure that whatever you are doing at work, proper posture is always maintained. This can be done by using back support devices such as an ergonomic chair or a lumbar support cushion. These devices help prevent back pain by ensuring that your posture is always correct even if you have to sit at a desk all day.