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Neuromusculor
Health
Have
you ever injured yourself at work? Or even felt stiff and achy
after a long day? If you're like most Americans, you're probably
answering yes. But can you say your job ranks as one of the four
riskiest when it comes to your neuromusculoskeletal health? Of
all manual laborers, construction workers are probably in most
danger of risking their neuromusculoskeletal health because of
the heavy lifting and bending they endure. The result is back
and lowback pain. Advice for those who have to do heavy lifting
is to measure the load first to make sure they can lift it.
Next, they should prepare themselves for lifting by placing
their feet in proper alignment and squaring their body to the
load. If necessary, make two trips instead of one. But probably
the most important thing all manual laborers can do to prevent
injury is to warm up and do stretches (especially for the legs
and back) both before and throughout the workday.
Out of all the
people in the transportation industry, truck drivers face the
most discomfort and stress to the lower back. Combine managing
heavy loads with prolonged sitting and vibration, and you have a
sure recipe for injuries to the disks between the vertebrae in
the lower spine. Truck drivers should take regular breaks to
stretch out and exercise.
In this age of
computer dependency, people are spending hours at their desk,
their keyboard and their phone, making themselves prone to back,
shoulder, neck, arm and wrist injuries, such as cervical strain
and carpal tunnel syndrome. The most important way to avoid
these injuries is to be ergonomically aware.
Your body
should always be square to the keyboard and monitor, with your
feet placed firmly on the ground.
* Never hold your
phone in the crook of your neck. You should be using a headset
instead.
* Make sure
your chair offers proper lumbar support, and that the height and
armrests are adjustable. The armrests should ideally be
three-quarter length; when seated, your elbows should be
parallel to your wrists when they are on the keyboard.
* Wrist pads
for typing are recommended.
* Take
frequent breaks and stretches to relax muscles, and get blood
flowing properly in the body.
Farmers endure
a lot of physical tension by bending, lifting and driving.
Depending on the vehicles and equipment they use they can also
endure plenty of harmful vibration, as well as repetitive strain
injuries caused by manual activities such as plowing or even
hammering. The best preventive measures are stretching and
proper lifting. Most importantly, listen to your body when it
tells you it needs a rest.
If your job
didn't make the top four, don't assume neuromusculoskeletal
injuries can't happen to you. If you do find yourself injured or
just suffering from everyday aches and pains, your chiropractor
can help. |