subject: Chiropractor in Londonderry NH | How to Prevent and Treat Back Injuries [print this page] Author: Mike McCoy Author: Mike McCoy
The most common workplace injury is the back injury. However, these injuries can often be prevented by following some basic rules. First, we need to get an understanding of the back and how the back works if we want to prevent injuries. Common Causes of Back Injury - The back is easily injured by undue strain on the muscles, tendons and spinal cord. This often occurs from improper lifting or from bad sitting posture. Despite the high risk of injury, people still do not lift properly. It is much easier to prevent an injury than it is to treat it. Therefore, we have come up with a guide to help prevent back injuries before they become a problem. Preventing Lifting Injuries - When you bend over to pick an object up, you immediately place yourself at risk for a back injury. While many jobs require heavy lifting as part of the job requirements, you still need to take precautions to prevent hurting your back. Once the back is hurt, construction workers, warehouse workers, restaurant employees, and other manual labor employees can be out of work. This means a loss of pay and an increase in doctor's bills until the back is fully recovered. To reduce your risk and stop painful back problems, follow this guide. It will ensure you are lifting properly and lower your risk of back pain. Proper Lifting Technique - 1. Stand in front of the object you need to lift with your feet shoulder-width apart.
2. Squat in front of the object by bending at the knees. Do not bend at the waist. 3. Maintain your focus to keep the weight on your legs and not your back.
4. Grab the object firmly and not with the tips of your fingers.
5. Do not shift the weight of the object while lifting.
6. Begin lifting the weight with your legs and abdominal muscles. Keep your back and neck straight during the lifting. Do NOT use your back muscles to lift.
7. If the object needs to rotate, rotate with your feet. Do NOT twist to move the object. Your back should remain straight through the entire lift. Seeking Treatment for Back Injuries - If you do hurt your back, you will want to seek medical attention. Doctors, chiropractors and physical therapists all work with back injuries. You may want to seek out a chiropractor that offers physical therapy and massage therapy in addition to the normal chiropractic services. At Home Treatments - " In the beginning, you will want to rest the back. However, it is not advised to stay on bed rest for more than a few days. Prolonged bed rest leads to longer recovery time and is not advised.
" Over-the-counter pain medication such as Ibuprofen, Advil and Aleve may help reduce the pain temporarily. If the pain lasts more than a few days, seek medical advice.
" Warm baths and showers along with heating pads can relax the muscles in the back. It is important not to put direct heat on the back. Therefore, place a towel or cloth across a heating pad before placing it on the injured area.
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