Nursing is the profession with the most back pain 

Research consistently shows that nursing comes out on top in the list of professions with the highest rate of back-pain related complaints, even ahead of more obvious contenders such as construction work, or auto repair. What is it about this job that is so taxing on the spine? Most studies have shown that it has to do with lifting, one of the most aggravating motions for the human spine. Furthermore, nurses do a fair amount of bending, another motion that puts a disproportionate amount of pressure on intravertebral discs and threatens spinal degradation. What can we do to prevent a nurse’s job from hurting her spine?

Tips for nurses suffering from back pain

It is a cruel irony that nurses, as the bastions of the health industry, should suffer for their selfless work. But if it is part of the nature of the job, we want to help nurses take steps to protect their spines and maintain the integrity of the structures of muscles long into the future. Here are some tips for preventing back pain on the job:

• Always maintain awareness of posture
• When lifting patients, try as hard as possible to always observe proper body mechanics. Even one bad, unconscious lift can cause injury. If in doubt, ask for help.
• Focus on core strength: the stabilizing muscles of the core share the burden of the lower back and make your spine more resilient to injury.
• Consider changing specializations: if your current specialization is causing you an unreasonable amount of pain, consider making a change. 
• Seek employment at hospitals with the latest lifting equipment. 

We are here for the nurses of Sacramento

At Espinosa Family Chiropractic, we specialize in providing healthcare workers with a high level of care that maintains the integrity of their spine against the demands of their job. If you are interested in finding out how our modalities help keep back pain at bay, give our office a call to schedule an appointment today.