The back plays a vital role in human beings . It supports the body and allows movement, while also protecting the spinal cord. At the same time, it's one of the areas where people often experience the most discomfort.
Back pain affects eight out of 10 people at some point in their lives. Did you know? Much of this pain is related to the activities a person performs in their daily lives, due to their work and/or personal duties.
Therefore, below we present a list of those occupations that, due to their nature, could be most detrimental to your back. You'll be surprised to learn that most of them are more common than you think .
1. Nursing staff
Spending too much time on your feet can affect your back. In hospitals, many nurses spend long hours moving from one place to another and standing.
Add to that the fact that nurses often have to lift patients, carry them somewhere, or transport heavy medical equipment.
In cases where people spend a lot of time standing, it is recommended to work with an upright posture (without forcing it), wear comfortable shoes, and sit down occasionally to rest.
2. Beauty salon employees
The staff who cut hair, color, or style hair also spend a lot of time standing. However, the difference here is that they don't move around as much.
Therefore, the load on the body ends up being greater, since this would also be compounded by the consequences of constant arm movement, which would affect the upper back area.
In these cases, it is recommended to take breaks between clients and wear comfortable clothing.
3. Housewives and domestic workers
Cleaning the house requires more physical effort than you might imagine. It requires climbing up and down, stretching, scrubbing, sweeping, bending, kneeling, and carrying the weight of furniture and objects.
The same thing happens with cooking, when people have to move their hands and arms around a pot, cut vegetables, bend down, carry a plate...
It can help to get a broom and dustpan between 120 and 150 centimeters high, which will prevent bending or stooping, as well as sweeping areas near your feet and thus avoiding waist strain.
Do you know the consequences of poor posture? We'll tell you all about them here.
4. Teachers
Standing for hours is the job of many teachers. At the same time, they must bend down to approach their students' desks and interact with them one-on-one.
They might also bend their bodies to place a map, carry a heavy television, or adjust a desk, or even help students in kindergarten.
It is recommended to stretch beforehand and bend your knees instead of bending down, so you can be at the students' level.
5. Cargo handlers
Without a doubt, some of those most at risk for back pain are those involved in carrying heavy objects, whether in warehouses, transportation, or even courier services. They often move loads repetitively, and this could put them at risk.
Beyond poor posture or back pain, they could even suffer from back deviations or hernias.
When lifting a heavy object from the floor, it's best to bend your knee and avoid twisting your spine. Of course, using a lumbar support belt is key for this type of work, as are taking breaks and stretching.
6. Office workers
Unlike those who spend a lot of time standing, office workers can spend hours sitting. And this sedentary lifestyle can affect their backs.
Sometimes, many people who work in administrative areas don't even get up from their seats all day, which puts a lot of strain on their backs.
The ideal posture is to keep your ears, shoulders, and hips in a straight line. And when sitting, sit at a height where you can rest your feet and keep your knees level with your hips, your back straight, and your heels in a straight line.
An ideal option in these cases is to lean on an ergonomic cushion . Some can be used for sitting, while others are for your back. They are usually comfortable, portable, and easy to wash.
What you should know about back pain
- Back pain can range from sudden to constant or intense , lasting for a few days, weeks, or even months.
- Some back pain may resolve spontaneously. In other cases, rest and over-the-counter pain relievers may be helpful. However, the situation may worsen if the person remains in bed for more than one or two days .
- If back pain continues for three days or more, it is necessary to seek the advice of a healthcare professional.
- Treatment varies depending on the cause and type of pain and ranges from hot and/or cold compresses, exercise, medications, injections, complementary treatments, and even surgery.
- Regardless of whether you suffer from back pain or not, a recommendation for everyone is to sleep with an ergonomic pillow , which is designed to conform to the shape of your body and align your spine.
Health for your back
As you can see, there are widely known occupations in which the health of our back could be at risk.
Regardless of the activities, the most important thing will always be to protect your body and keep it safe .
Ergonomics in your workplace is very important. If you'd like more information, you can complement what you already know with our article on the 5 PROVEN BENEFITS OF ERGONOMICS IN THE WORKPLACE.
Take care of yourself, know your body, see a doctor, and sleep on a pillow that offers comfort and rest.
