HOW COMMON ARE BACK INJURIES?

Did you know?

• Back injuries are second only to the common cold as a reason why people stay home from work.
• Back injuries are a leading cause of long-term illness from injuries in the workplace.
• Back injuries account for the loss of millions of dollars for companies each year.
• 80% of people will have back pain at some time in their lives.

You may be surprised by these facts. Most people don’t realize that back injuries are a serious problem.

Health care workers may be at even greater risk for back injuries than most other employees. In one study, 1 out of 15 nurses were found to have a back injury serious enough to interfere with their livelihood. Home care is one of the areas in health care where workers should be extra careful about their backs. Studies have shown higher rates of back injury among home care workers when compared with staff working in institutions.

In your role as a healthcare worker, you may have already seen one or more of your co-workers take extended leave because of a back injury. You may have experienced an injury yourself that caused you to miss work. The information in this module will help you to make wise decisions that can reduce your chances of a first or a repeat back injury.

ABOUT YOUR SPINE

Your spine is made up of 24 small bones called vertebrae. These vertebrae are stacked on top of each other to form the spinal column. Cushions, called discs, separate the vertebrae. Discs act as shock absorbers and allow the joints to move smoothly.

Openings in each vertebra form the spinal canal that contains the spinal cord. The spinal cord links the brain to the rest of the body. It has nerves branching off of it and delivers messages between the brain and the rest of the body. Muscles, ligaments, and tendons support the spine and allow us to move.

The lower spine joins the upper and lower parts of the body. Muscles in the lower back allow you to stand, bend, lift, and move around. It is here, in the lower part of the back, that most back problems occur. Even a small problem in this area can cause pain or discomfort.

HOW INJURIES OCCUR

Sometimes an injury occurs suddenly when you lift or over-reach. Just as often, however, the damage to our backs comes on slowly. Over the years, our backs undergo repeated stress from poor habits. The damage adds up and can cause deterioration (wearing away) of parts of the spine. Eventually, our backs become so weak that one wrong move can result in a painful injury.

When a back injury occurs suddenly, common causes are:
Lifting heavy objects
Overreaching
Twisting and bending together
Working in uncomfortable positions
Sitting or standing in one position for long periods of time
Slipping (e.g. wet floor)

When you hurt your back, different types of injuries can occur. Muscles can become strained when they are stretched beyond their limit. Ligaments, which hold the vertebrae together, can become torn, resulting in a sprain. Discs can become herniated, causing a bulge between the vertebrae. The herniated disc can rupture (disc wall breaks open). This condition is often called a “slipped disc”. A herniated disc can put pressure on spinal nerves that can result in pain, numbness or weakness in the lower back or leg.

RISK FACTORS

Imagine that a new co-worker has just suffered a serious back injury at your workplace. You, however, may have been working for fifteen years or longer and never experienced more than a twinge or two in your back. You may be just lucky or you may have fewer risk factors than your co-worker. You need to be aware of the risk factors for back injury and how they could increase your chances of having an injury.

Poor physical condition
When we move, lift, walk, or run, our stomach muscles provide support to the lower back. When these muscles are weak, the risk of injury goes up. Increase your level of fitness (with your doctor’s advice) and practice exercises to strengthen your abdominal muscles.

Obesity
Carrying extra weight around puts a great deal of extra stress on our bodies each time we lift. If you think you may be overweight, consult a doctor or nutritionist to get advice about a healthy eating plan.

Posture
Our spine has three curves – one at the neck, another at the middle and a third at the lower spine. These curves create a natural “S” shape to our back. Keeping the curves in their natural position is an important part of keeping our backs healthy. So stand up straight and don’t hunch over.

Reluctance to ask for help
If you are reluctant to ask for help, you are putting yourself at risk for an injury. Although we all want to be independent and efficient in our work, it’s okay to ask for help with lifting and moving clients when you feel you need it. Don’t try to be a super hero!

Stress
Many people are not aware that stress can increase the risk of a back injury. Stress causes muscles to tense and tense muscles are more likely to be injured. Exercise, a healthy diet, lots of rest, and participating in enjoyable activities are just some of the ways that you can try and manage the stress in your life.

IMPACT OF BACK INJURIES

A back injury can cause pain and limitation of movement. Back pain occurs most often in people between the ages of 30 and 50 years.

Luckily, for many people, back injuries result in little more than a temporary interruption in their everyday routine; the pain clears up no matter what treatment is used. Oftentimes, however, back pain will re-occur. In some people, the pain will continue for a long time and become a chronic problem.

Chronic back pain can affect the quality of a person’s life. It can change just about every aspect of a person’s everyday routine. Just think for a moment of the many activities you do in the course of a day. Do you do your own housework and cooking? Drive your children to school? Enjoy activities such as walking, bowling, or running?

Chronic back pain can interrupt your work life, your social life, your family life, and your recreational habits. Many people with chronic back pain cannot drive a vehicle. They cannot sit comfortably for long periods of time. Constant pain makes them so tired that they need frequent rests throughout the day. Back injuries interrupt people’s lives, their hopes, and their dreams.

Injuries on the job are not just statistics. They affect the lives of individuals and families. They increase costs for health care agencies and lower profits for companies. They contribute to business closures and higher unemployment rates. Co-workers often experience an increased workload when all of the absenteeism cannot be replaced. Injuries interrupt the work routine as new workers must be orientated and trained to replace the injured worker. Preventing back injuries is in everyone’s best interest.

PREVENTION: PREPARING TO LIFT

Among healthcare workers, lifting and transferring clients is a common cause of sudden back injury. Before you attempt to do any lifting, think about what you intend to do and ask yourself the following:

How heavy is the weight to be lifted? Am I capable of lifting the weight safely by myself?
In general, the maximum weight that is safe to carry is up to 30% of a person’s body weight. For example, a nurse who weighs 110 lbs. (50 kg.) should not attempt to lift a client who weighs 100 lbs. (45.5 kg.) and who cannot move.

What is the best height for lifting?
Let your arm hang down by your side. Just above the level of your middle finger will be the best height for lifting (assuming you will be lifting straight up).

How is this client usually lifted? What does the care plan say?
You cannot, however, depend totally on the care plan with respect to lifting as the client’s physical or mental condition may have changed since the last time care was provided.

Will I need the help of a co-worker to assist with the lifting? Has the family of my homecare client been trained to assist with lifting? If not, are they interested and capable of learning how to do so? What is my facility’s policy on this issue?
If the client is not able to move because of traction, trauma, or a body cast, then two people will be required to lift regardless of weight or height.

Are there options (other than physical lifting) available to me?
For example, are assistive devices, such as a mechanical lift, available for use?

Is the client confused, aggressive, or afraid? If so, how will this affect my decision about lifting? Is the client able to assist in any way?
Explain to the client what you will be doing and ensure that the client understands what you are saying.

Is the area where I will be lifting free of clutter? Is there room to move around?
Sometimes even a minor re-arrangement of furniture can greatly expand the working space.

LIFTING SAFELY

Follow these general rules for lifting to reduce the amount of pressure on your back and to lower your chances of having an injury:

1. Tuck your pelvis in by tightening your stomach muscles. This will help keep your back in the proper position as you lift.
2. Keep your feet shoulder-width apart.
3. Bend your knees.
4. Hold the object as close to your body as possible.
5. Keep your trunk straight as you lift. When you need to change direction, move one foot at a time, turning your entire body altogether.
6. Lift the weight smoothly and steadily. Straighten your legs as you lift. Your legs, not your back, actually do the work.
7. Follow the steps in reverse when you want to replace the object

Remember: Never twist at the waist while lifting and never bend at the waist to pick up or lay down an object.

12 IMPORTANT BACK SAFETY TIPS

1. Maintain your proper body weight.
2. Practice good posture.
3. Stretch before lifting to warm up your muscles. (Some workplaces schedule brief stretch periods a couple of times a day).
4. Use your break time to relax your muscles.
5. Alternate heavy and light tasks wherever possible.
6. Use a firm mattress and don’t sleep on your abdomen.
7. Wear comfortable, non-slip footwear (no high heels).
8. Get in shape. Practice exercises to help strengthen your back. Ensure that you have your doctor’s consent before beginning any new exercise program.
9. Remember to be extra careful when starting a new job. Back injuries seem to be more common among new employees in the workplace.
10. Don’t overreach for supplies or other objects.
11. Raise one foot whenever possible to relieve back strain when standing or sitting.
12. Let your supervisor know right away if either you or your client experiences an injury.

OTHER FACTORS

It’s important to learn about back safety so that you can protect yourself and your client.

If just learning about back safety prevented back injuries, however, they probably would not be as common as they are. Changing the physical demands of the job and using devices to reduce the weight to be lifted have been more effective than just education alone. On the job training that provides an opportunity to observe and practice in real-life situations has also been found to help reduce back injuries.

Many other factors affect the occurrence of back injuries. Some of these factors are within the control of the organization and others apply to the work environment. For example, are workers at your agency encouraged to offer input into safety issues? Are policies and procedures related to safety available? How about the actual work setting where staff perform care activities such as lifting? Are the rooms small and cluttered or are they spacious enough to ensure safety?

The whole issue of safety becomes more complex when workers go into a person’s home to provide care. Creative solutions have to be found to enhance safety. Staff and management need to work together to identify risks and to come up with practical solutions. Clients and their families need to be involved too so that improvements can be made for everyone’s benefit. More families need to be educated about safety and taught safe lifting practices in the home.

CONCLUSION

Some people injure their backs at work. Others hurt their backs at home. Good back safety is not something that can be followed at work and forgotten about when you go home at the end of the day. Your everyday practices (how you stand, how you lift, your physical condition, and so on) will either strengthen or weaken your back over time. Follow good health practices and safe lifting at work and at home. You owe it to your co-workers, your friends, your family, and yourself to take care of yourself.

Use the following “Check Your Knowledge” to find out if you understood the main ideas in the module:

CHECK YOUR KNOWLEDGE

• List six ways that back injuries can occur. 

• Name five risk factors for back injuries.

• List five things you should consider before attempting to lift a client.

• Outline the general rules you should follow to lift safely. 

• Which groups and individuals are likely to be affected when a person has a serious back injury)?