The Top 5 On-the-Job Rules to Follow to Prevent Back Pain on the Job Nursing, especially in the hospital setting, is extremely physically demanding and as a result, nurses’ backs bear the brunt of their jobs. With all the lifting, stretching, pulling, pushing and standing for a couple of hours during a shift it’s no wonder so many nurses complain of back pain. One of the most crucial and yet often poorly treated and supported parts of the body, nurses’ backs bear an incredible burden that’s sometimes hard to handle. Above all, it’s a body part that’s used for almost every action you make. Keeping it healthy and strong should be your number one priority. A whopping 12% of nurses have left the profession due to back pain. Horrifying, right? If you’ve ever hurt your back you know what we’re talking about. It’s not pleasant and can jeopardize your job. Preventing back pain isn’t always possible, but here are some tips you can follow in order to at least diminish back pain on the job. 1. Exercise! Doing exercises reduces and prevents back pain. Before you start exercising, a good idea would be to consult your doctor about some useful exercising routines that could help you reduce back pain. Back extensions, bottom to heels stretch and knee rolls are extremely beneficial workout routines you can even perform at work whenever you get a chance. They help to strengthen back muscles and make you stronger. Also, doing yoga or Pilates is very beneficial in reducing back pain. Exercise is the key! Related: 5 Things to Expect on a New Year's Eve Shift 2. Sit and Stand Straight With such a workload during your shift, the last thing you pay attention to is your posture. However, if you want to reduce back pain, you have to make sure to straighten your back when both standing and sitting. Whenever you are standing for more than couple of hours during your shift, keep your chest out and shoulder down in order to relax your back muscles. This way you can maintain a straight posture and give your back a little break! However, it’s not all about standing positions. It’s also very important to avoid slouching when sitting. You may also want to put a pillow behind your lower back for more support. After you embrace this posture routine, it will do miracles for your back muscles.
The Top 5 On-the-Job Rules to Follow to Prevent Back Pain on the Job
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