According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics sprain and strain injuries are the most common injuries and the back is 2nd most common place for injuries. Over the years jobs have gotten safer to minimize risk but there are certain jobs that are inherently have a higher risk for back injuries. Here is a list of the top ten jobs that have a high risk for causing back pain.
- Truck Drivers – The risk for this group is the combination of prolonged sitting combined with the need to move heavy loads.
- Construction workers – The risk is high in this group due to prolonged bent over positions and working with awkward and sometimes heavy loads.
- Landscapers – Landscapers often work with a lot of twisting motions and are often working in bent over positions moving heavy dirt, rocks, and plants.
- Police officers – Very similar to truck drivers, going from a prolonged seated position in their vehicle to going into explosive movements to apprehend suspects.
- Firefighters – The equipment that firefighters have to carry can be awkward and require forceful movements, increasing the risk of injury.
- EMT – The need to go from a seated position to transferring people can lead to back pain
- Farmers – Farmers often have to work with heavy equipment and also do a lot of prolonged sitting on their machinery.
- Auto mechanics – Prolonged bent over positions and awkward positions in confined spaces can lead to back pain
- Nurses – Nurses are often responsible to transfer, bathe, and dress patients. This often leads to awkward positioning and can lead to back pain.
- Office workers – Believe it or not, working at a computer workstation most of your day is bad for the back and can lead to back pain.
As you can see, the jobs that go from a prolonged seated posture to moving heavy loads or awkward movements are the most likely to cause back pain. Make sure you stretch before going from a seated posture to lifting and you will reduce the risk of injury. Are you dealing with back pain? Contact us 480-633-8293.