How to Relieve Back Pain at Work

A large proportion of people suffering from back pain will attribute their pain to their duties at work or an accident at work. Nathan Briganti of Briganti Physiotherapy, a musculoskeletal specialist physiotherapist, working within NHS, Private Practice and Professional sport has provided some useful information on the causes of back pain at work, as well as some tips on how to relieve back pain which has been caused by your employment.

Common Causes of Back Pain 

The spine is one of the strongest parts of the body and is an essential body part which gives you both strength and flexibility. As you grow older, your spine’s ligaments, joints and discs start to cause age related changes which may cause your spine to stiffen. This stiffness may result in ache and pains that can cause you problems at work.

 

Inadequate Posture

One cause of back pain is due to inadequate posture whilst sitting and standing. Having good posture is essential as a lack of even support placed on your spine can create pressure on some parts of your back, causing it to disperse incorrectly forcing increased load through a certain point and this causing pain. If sitting too much at a desk then set an alarm and every 30 mins stand and stretch or move just to change position. Same if Standing long periods find time to rest for a couple of minutes to alleviate load.

Lifting Activities

Lifting heavy objects often leads to pain in the back, arms, and shoulders. Back pain is a common complaint for those who regularly perform manual handling duties at work, carry out DIY at home, or lift heavy weights at the gym. It is due to overloading the spine by placing too much load on it (too heavy) or lifting inadequately.

Lack of Exercise

Another cause of back pain is a lack of exercise. The less active you are, the more likely your back pain will worsen as the muscles in your spine and back will be weaker. Without frequent movement, you may develop chronic back pain.

Causes of Back Pain at Work

Back pain at work is often caused by an employer’s or employee’s negligence. If your employer does not explain the safety precautions at your workplace, you could get injured. Many work-related accidents, such as, the provision of inadequate work equipment, manual handling accidents, falling from heights, being hit by falling objects and slips or trips, can cause back injuries which may cause you to require long periods of time off work.

Office Equipment

Poor posture may come from bad quality office chairs at work which have no adjustable back or neck support. Adequate support is required so the spine is kept in a neutral position so that its not overloaded causing pain. Poor quality office chairs may cause strain and increase the chances of the employees developing back pain and problems.

Back pain can also arise if chairs, desks, and screens are not at the correct height. If you have any concerns about your work space/desk, your Occupation Health team should do an ergonomic assessment to ensure your risk factors for developing pain are low.

Manual Handling

Those who work in jobs which involve manual handling tasks are at risk of sustaining a back injury at work. Your employer has a duty to minimize your risk of injury whilst at work by providing appropriate training, creating risk assessments, and providing adequate lifting equipment if required.

Accidents at Work

Workplace accidents can result in various injuries, including back pain. Accidents at work may arise due to poor housekeeping, poor systems of work, or inadequate health and safety precautions.

How to relieve back pain at work

Pain Relief

·        Pain relief, such as anti-inflammatory medication may help to alleviate some of the pain you are experiencing.

·        Heat and cold can both be useful to manage pain.

·        Over the counter topical creams like ibuprofen gel, deep heat, Volterol, Biofreeze and Tiger Balm will all work to help ease pain

Exercise

·        Your G.P. or physiotherapist may advise you to exercise to relieve your back pain. People often worry that exercise will make the pain worse; however, by continually exercising and keeping the blood flow moving, you will be strengthening your muscles and keeping your joints loose. This will help in preventing back pain from getting worse and will speed up recovery.

·        You should always consult with your G.P. or physiotherapists to find out which exercises will help alleviate your pain, and which exercises you should avoid. Exercise such as swimming, walking, yoga and going to the gym are good for back pain.

Relative Rest

·        In contrast, your G.P. or physiotherapist may also advise you to avoid doing activities that bring on your back pain but encourage other forms of exercise.

·        Back pain is irritable and can have a negative effect on your emotions. Evidence shows that you will have a quicker recovery if you have a positive emotional response to your back pain, which is why you should try to understand your pain and time frames to recovery, what to do if its not getting better. This will then allow you to better cope with pain.

Make Adjustments

·        Making small adjustments, such as paying attention to your posture may significantly improve any back pain at work you are experiencing.

·        If you are struggling at work with back pain, you should talk to your employer. This may help people who have more active jobs, as they will be able to discuss alternative options, such as reducing the amount of heavy lifting or doing lighter duties and fewer hours on their feet. If your job has a health adviser, they can advise on what work you are fit to do and arrange adjustments to help you cope and stay at work. They could also ensure that you get the treatment you require.

·        If you think your back pain may be due to working in an office, you should adjust your seat to ensure that your screens are at eye level and your feet are flat on the ground. You may also wish to request a lumbar support cushion for your chair, which may help to improve your posture. Your employer may offer to provide you with an adjustable/ standing desk which you could use to alleviate back pain.

How to Relieve Back Pain at Work using Physiotherapy

One of the most common treatment options for back pain is physiotherapy.

Briganti Physiotherapy offers a range of treatments and modalities to manage, reduce and eliminate back pain. Briganti Physiotherapy uses a range of evidence based treatments and modalities to aid in your recovery. While we utilise manual therapy and injection therapy to help treat patients, the underpinning of our treatment is based on education and the use exercise and strengthening.

Contact Briganti Physiotherapy by visiting their website to find out more about the types of treatment which may be offered to assist in the recovery of your back pain.

How Beacon Law Assist?

If you believe your back pain resulted from your duties at work or an accident at work, due to employer’s negligence or lack of training of health and safety procedures, you may be able to make a claim.

Beacon Law provides a highly experienced team of solicitors and legal professionals. We provide a high level of service to all our clients and work hard to ensure you receive the highest level of accident at work compensation for your injuries. Beacon Law is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. If you would like to find out if you could make a claim, use our contact forms, or call 0330 1332 857 and a specialist solicitor will get in touch.