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According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety
and Health, or NIOSH, more than 24 percent of all injuries associated with the
workplace and illnesses requiring individuals to miss days from work are due to
back complications. As a matter of fact, healthcare workers have 4.5 times as
many back injuries caused by overexertion than any other type of worker.
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In addition, a performance improvement alliance consisting
of more than 2,600 U.S. hospitals and more than 84,000 other healthcare sites
known as Premier, national statistics demonstrated that six of the top ten
professions with the highest chance for back injuries are nurse’s aides,
licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, health aides, radiology
technicians, and physical therapists. Among nurses, more than one one third of
back complications are associated with the handling of patients and the
frequency in which they are required to manually move patients. From a worldwide
perspective, back injuries to nurses have a point prevalence of approximately 17
percent, an annual prevalence of 40-50 percent, and a lifetime prevalence of
35-80 percent.
These are only the accounted rates for reported incidents as
many individuals working under healthcare jobs can experience back pain and
other symptoms and never receive medical attention. Back complications are a
world-wide issue as other studies from Greece, China, and Denmark have recently
showed the relation between nurses and back injuries, to name a few.
Roughly 80 percent of back injuries cause temporary symptoms
and nurses as well as other workers usually return to their normal functioning
and continue working normally. But, for other healthcare workers, their back
pain could develop into chronic pain and, for a small percentage of these
individuals, their symptoms can last a lifetime. This can cause a considerable
impact on the individual’s independence and income as well as create a
significant effect on healthcare due to its overburdened system in losing care
givers. With an average age of 46.8 years, as the nursing workforce ages, there’s
been a critical shortage of nurses throughout the country, with a 20% shortage
by 2015 and an estimated 30% shortage by 2020. Conserving the health of the
nursing staff and reducing back injuries in healthcare personnel is essential.
When it comes to back injuries and nurses, there are a
variety of factors that can ultimately affect the well being of an individual.
Back pain and other work-related musculoskeletal injuries may be caused by
factors such as age, genetics, being overweight or out of shape, poor posture,
poor body mechanics, pregnancy, tension, and personal stress. Injuries may also
often occur as a result of trauma from an accident, such as a slip or fall, or
an automobile accident. There is also cumulative trauma to the spine and its
related structures which may occur gradually over time due to a single or
multiple of the above factors.
Back complications in healthcare workers are generally due
to repetitive manual handling activities of patients which often involves heavy
lifting associated with transferring and repositioning patients. It’s believed
that lifting patients has become a leading problem for nurses and their spines
because of an increasing obesity epidemic in the U.S. as well as a rapid
increase in the number of older people who require assistance with their daily
living activities. These factors, combined with working in abnormal positions
and lifting or moving heavy equipment, can quickly cause back complications.
As a nurse, many individuals readily depend on you to assist
them through their recovery process, and as such, its important to remain as
healthy as possible. While it may appear challenging to avoid these factors in
order to decrease the risk of back injuries, seeking medical attention as soon
as symptoms for persistent back pain can be a good way of preventing further
back complications as well as help ease the strain of work on your body. A chiropractor
can diagnose any possible back injuries or conditions that could be causing
your symptoms. Through the use of spinal adjustments and manual manipulation,
chiropractors help gradually restore an individual’s health and overall
wellness, in order to help you return to your normal everyday activities.
By Dr. Alex Jimenez
