5 Industries With Employees Plagued By Back Pain

Category: Back Pain | Author: Stefano Sinicropi

Employees with Back Pain

The vast majority of people will suffer from back pain at some point in their life, but for many spine pain is brought on by years of stress on the job. Manual labor can certainly take a toll on our bodies, but it’s not just construction workers who are plagued by on-the-job back pain. Today, we take a look at five industries whose workers are at a higher risk for developing back pain and problems.

Transportation

Truck drivers put a lot of stress on their spine over the course of their work week. They have to stay in a seated position for hours on end, and that constant pressure can take a toll on a person’s spine. Moreover, oftentimes they have to help unload the cargo they are delivering, so regular bending and lifting only serves to put more pressure on their spine.

Airlines

Stewardesses and baggage handlers also end up in the doctor’s office with back pain at a higher rate. These individuals have to help load luggage and suitcases onto the plane and the overhead compartments, sometimes lifting bags approaching 100 pounds. Carry-on bags are less heavy, but they need to be lifted over a person’s head to be stowed in the overhead compartments, which can stress and strain a spine.

Athletes

Whether you’re a pro football player or just play in a rec league once a week, your spine is at risk for injury during sports. Whether it’s from injuring your cervical spine while making a tackle, slipping a disc when swinging for a home run, or pinching a nerve while driving for a slam dunk, physical activity is one of the leading causes of acute spine injuries aside from car crashes.

Factory Workers

This is a rather broad group, but factory workers are typically asked to perform a similar set of duties on a daily basis. Whether that’s operating a machine press or working on an assembly line, they are doing repetitive actions for hours on end. These movements may not be hard on a person’s spine each and every time, but over the years they’ll slowly take a toll on a spine. Oftentimes this can lead to loss of disc height, which can lead to degenerative disc disease or the need for disc surgery.

Healthcare

Nurses and other medical professionals also have a higher incidence of back pain than other professionals. That’s because nurses are often tasked with helping lift patients out of bed and into chairs and onto the operating table. Not only that, but medical professionals are on their feet for hours on end, oftentimes working 10-14 hour shifts with little time to rest. We in the industry love helping others heal their back pain, but sometimes we need to step back and make sure we take care of our own spines!

Comments are closed.

Make an Appointment