Delivering Pain-Free Joints

By Krista Elliott

Being a letter carrier or courier definitely has its perks. There's something to be said for not being stuck behind a desk all day, and for being able to get out and about in the fresh air. 

This time of year though, your friendly neighborhood letter carriers and couriers are bracing themselves. It's November, and that means parcel season. And with online shopping getting more and more popular, these Santa's helpers will soon be working harder than ever to get your books, housewares, electronics, and toys to your doorstep. Unfortunately, all of this work can wind up creating a special delivery for them: Back pain and subluxations. 

"Neither Snow, Nor Rain ..." But What About Pain?

Letter carriers and couriers aren't lifting feathers, my friends. Lifting heavy items, on a daily basis is part of the job. Being able to carry a shoulder bag with a weight of up to 35 pounds, and handling mail items weighing up to 70 pounds, is expected. The sheer weight of the mailbag, combined with its uneven forces upon the body, can wreak havoc on the back, shoulders, and arms, putting them at risk for subluxations and pulled muscles.

In addition to all of that carrying, couriers and letter carriers are often walking considerable distances during the day. Any gait issues (which are likely, due to the aforementioned giant mailbag over their shoulder) can become pronounced after all of that walking, causing pain and misalignments in the ankles, knees, hips, and lower back. 

And then we have the weather conditions. Slips and falls are a very real risk for these workers. Even in nice weather, letter carriers have to deal with steps and uneven terrain. Throwing icy or rainy sidewalks into the mix only makes things worse, as does having to clamber over snowbanks to get to the mailbox. Even if a fall is avoided, a near-fall can seriously wrench and strain the back muscles and damage joints.

A Stamp of Approval for Chiropractic Care

If you're a mail carrier or courier (or let's be frank, if you do ANY amount of lifting during the day), routine chiropractic care can be your back's best friend. By ensuring that your spine and joints are as optimally aligned as possible, the chiropractic experts at The Joint Chiropractic help your body resist injury and subluxations. But if you are injured? Chiropractic care from The Joint is excellent at relieving pain and helping you heal faster, with precise and gentle adjustments that treat the cause of your pain, not just the symptoms.

So come by The Joint today. You never need an appoinment to visit any of our 350-plus locations. You might be delivering parcels, but we're delivering pain-free backs!