Preventing Back Injuries

Everyone has the potential for injury. Knowing more about spine protection and how to stabilize and strengthen your spine minimizes the risk of injury and reinjury. 

Risk Factors for Neck and Low Back Pain

Many risk factors have been identified, both in your personal life and at work.

Occupational factors may include: 

• Repetitive heavy lifting, twisting, reaching and bending
• Repetitive manual material handling
• Exposure to continuous whole-body vibration
• Prolonged, static posture (especially if posture is awkward or confined)
• Poor job satisfaction

Non-occupational factors may include: 

• Poor physical condition (lack of exercise, overweight)
• Poor posture
• Smoking
• Advanced age
• Psychosocial stressors, such as depression, financial factors

Reducing Risk of Low Back Injuires

• Learn proper material handling and lifting techniques .
• Use appropriate equipment for the job (for example, an ergonomic office chair, mechanical assistive device for lifting heavy/awkward objects, cart on wheels to transport objects).
• Keep your work area and equipment properly maintained.
• Incorporate task rotation (for example, moving through different tasks during the day to avoid undue stress and repetition).
• Alternate work tasks between sitting and standing to reduce postural (static muscle) fatigue.
• Set up your work area to minimize frequent reaching, leaning, twisting and bending.
• Reduce fatigue by allowing stretch breaks.
• Take part in a fitness program and/or provide a wellness program through your company.

Preventing Long-Term Disabilities

The SpineCare team believes it is possible to prevent long-term disability if you have nonspecific low back pain. The following factors are critical: 

• Early intervention (less than 6 weeks after injury).
• Early paced activity and graded regular exercise avoiding deconditioning and reduce anxiety reinjury.
• Timely, regular communication with your treatment team and employer, early detection of “yellow flags” by the team that may hinder recovery and return to work — such as depression, anxiety, job dissatisfaction and fear of reinjury.
• Consider early safe return to work with support from your employer, supervisors and coworkers such as allowing you return to work in a modified capacity.

Job Site Analysis

SpineCare staff works with employees and with safety and human resources personnel to help you incorporate correct body mechanics and lifting/material handling practices at work. We can also help identify critical job demands and ways to meet them efficiently and safely. This cooperative approach allows SpineCare and safety or human resources personnel to integrate back protection techniques for successful return-to-work, and helps you integrate learned body mechanics and lifting techniques into daily work situations.

Returning to Work if You Are Injured

How soon you return to work will vary depending on the type and severity of injury. Every person heals differently. Once you start the stabilization program at SpineCare, the SpineCare team will reassess your ability to return to work.