Did you become a rideshare or delivery driver during the pandemic? Or maybe you’ve been a delivery or bus driver for nearly 20 years.
As it turns out, you may have one of the top back-pain causing jobs. Learn more and this and other careers that can lead to back pain. Find out how to prevent and manage back pain while keeping a job you love.
1. Drivers
Prolonged sitting combined with tense driving situations and long hours spent behind the wheel can take a toll on your back. Long-haul (cross-country) drivers are particularly at risk.
Back Pain Tips for Truckers
- A 100-degree angle will prevent most slouching.
- Sit close enough to the steering wheel that elbows and knees bend slightly
- Use a lower back pillow
- Hamstring stretches are particularly important for low back pain relief.
2. Nurses and Healthcare Aids
Nurses, hospice, home health aides, orderlies, and other similar employees are often called up to lift more than they comfortably can. If a patient slips out of bed, you feel compelled to render aid immediately, even if that person weighs two or more times what you can lift.
Back Pain Tips for Nurses
- Perform spine stretches anytime you can to keep your back limber and flexible
- Wear supportive shoes
- Always team lift when possible
- Use sheet lifts and other strategies to reduce strain
3. Computer Job
Any job with you in front of a computer for most of the day can lead to back pain. Office workers tend to spend long hours sitting. This is not only bad for circulation. It weakens leg and back muscles, which then become more rigid and painful.
Back Pain Tips for Office Workers
- Develop better posture habits
- Get up at least once an hour to walk around for a few minutes and do some stretches.
- The idea that you’re supposed to sit up straight like a board is not good for your back. Instead, design your desk to promote moving around and shift your position frequently.
4. Warehouse, Distribution, and Stocking
You have a demanding job. You’re always on your feet, overextending your reach, pulling and lifting heavy objects. And on top of that, the pace is unrelenting. It’s no wonder you have a high risk of developing back pain.
Back Pain Prevention for the Warehouse
- Follow warehouse safety guidelines
- Test a box’s weight before you try to lift it
- Team lift over 50lb or use a cart or forklift.
How Physical Therapy Can Help
A physical therapist will use — and in some cases show you how to use — treatments like ice/heat and a tens unit to reduce back pain and inflammation while promoting faster healing.
They can also help you strengthen surrounding support structures to reduce strain and wear and tear.
These can include very targeted stretches, strength-training, low and impact workouts, all specifically-designed to relieve your pain and restore your mobility and quality of life.
If you’ve tried the above tips and are still experiencing pain, stiffness, and loss of mobility or pain has suddenly impacted your ability to move, it’s time to see a doctor. Our back pain specialist can assess your unique situation and get you started with a personalized treatment program. Contact us to schedule an appointment.