What is a back injury exactly? A back injury is usually the result of trauma, normal wear and tear or damage to back tissue, bones or muscles. These areas are often more susceptible to injury because of body weight bearing as well as over flexing. Sprains, strains, vertebrae fractures and herniated disks are regarded as most common back injuries experienced, leading to pain which can either be chronic or temporary depending on the cause and extent of damage.
Pain fact- Its imperative to understand that back pain itself is a symptom of a back injury and not a diagnosis on its own.
Preventing work-related back injuries- Back Injuries at work are very easy to prevent by merely following a couple precautions which includes using lifting techniques which place little to no stress on lower back area, adjusting shelf heights accordingly, minimum regular lifting and torso movement such as twisting during lifts, adjusting size or weight of objects lifted, using material handing equipment such as trolleys, trucks and dollies and avoiding assignments which will exceed your strength.
Preventing general back injuries- A general back injury can be prevented by regular exercise which will result in strong back muscles. A healthy diet is just as important as exercise to loose excess weight or to maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight just causes unnecessary strain and stress on your back. Make sure that your daily diet contains enough Calcium and Vitamin D to keep your bones and spine strong and prevent Osteoporosis.
Injury risk factors- A couple sure-fire factors have been identified as to increase your risk of getting a back injury. These factors include age, fitness level, diet, smoking, occupation, genetics and believe it or not race! Black woman have a significantly higher risk to develop back problems such as Spondylolisthesis, when compared to Caucasian woman.
