Stress Increases Lower Back Pain While Working
By Sandy Schroeder
We are all waking up to the problems of sitting so much at the office or at home. We know too much hunching over a keyboard or phone can take a toll on the lower back, but stress may make it worse.
Prevention and Bicycling looked at the research. The journal BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders reported stress at work could be involved with lower back pain.
A German group of psychologists reviewed 18 studies encompassing 19,000 people, looking at chronic lower back pain and other work issues such as poor social support, heavy workloads, and lack of control of daily tasks.
The researchers also discovered those people experiencing these stress issues often reported lower back pain which created more work absences, higher healthcare costs and lower productivity.
Chronic lower back pain is linked to poor posture and sitting too long, but research shows stress from workloads, job structure, and lack of positive interactions also contributed to lower back pain.
When these stress factors were relieved there was less back pain. Just changing one of them helped to improve the situation. When the people received encouragement and praise from co-workers or the boss, or were given more freedom in handling their work, they reported less back pain.
How Does This Apply to You?
Take a step back and consider where you are in your daily work patterns.
- Do you have enough freedom to make your job work?
- Is your workload building instead of leveling out?
- Do you get positive feedback from the people around you?
- Do you get up ready to work every day?
- Are you making your interactions with others work?
- Are you doing all you can to streamline the way you handle daily tasks?
As you review everything you may see improvements in lower back pain. Keep right on going striving for good posture, taking breaks during long hours, and exercising everyday. You may make great strides when you reduce stress and stay more physically active.
If you feel you could use more support, chiropractic can help. Stop by The Joint Chiropractic clinic near you and meet their staff of licensed chiropractors who are well equipped to help. Clinics are open weekends and evenings and walk-ins are welcome. Affordable personal healthcare plans eliminate the hassle of insurance, and a nationwide network of more than 500 clinics provides care wherever you are, at home or away.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in.Goodyear, Ariz.