Ever wonder what the nation’s most back-breaking jobs are?
The answer might surprise you. You don’t have to be hauling furniture or digging trenches to make the list. Believe it or not, you could be sitting at a computer, or driving a delivery truck, and still develop a back problem so severe that it keeps you from work.
Back pain is a serious problem. It accounts for one-fourth of all lost or unproductive days at work in the United States. Ouch. So here’s a look at the nation’s most back-breaking professions, courtesy of the American Chiropractic Association and The HealthyBack Institute:
Truck drivers: The ACA put heavy-truck and tractor-trailer driving at the top of its worst-jobs list. Why? Because of the long hours of spinal compression and vibration that people in this profession endure while driving.
Carpenters: Lifting, bending, hammering and twisting put these tradesmen at risk. The HealthyBack Institute estimates that nearly 20 percent of workers in this category suffer back pain.
Nurses: This profession is built for back aches. Nurses, orderlies and other attendants suffer frequent strains as they bend over patients, transfer patients between beds or assist with other medical procedures. Nursing home workers are most at risk, largely because of the lifting involved with their line of work.
Emergency personnel: Police and firefighters are on the list, but for different reasons. Police officers spend considerable time in their vehicles, placing compression-related stain on their backs. When they are called into action, however, they are often placed in situations that require sudden movements. Firefighters, on the other hand, face the back-breaking task of carrying hoses, axes and people from places that require far too much twisting and turning for the average spine.
Auto mechanics: These craftsmen end up on the awkward positions watch list. If they aren’t lying on their backs beneath a car, they are hunched over engines or reaching up from beneath a hoist. Combine those work positions with heavy equipment and vibrating machinery and you’ve got a back problem waiting to happen.
If you need some help getting rid of work-related back pain, give us a call. We’d love to help.