Retail Life: Ringing up a Healthier Back

By Krista Elliott

Working retail can be enjoyable (fun coworkers, great customers, employee discounts!). However, it can also present a certain amount of challenges, like when people come into the store 10 minutes before closing, haul armfuls of clothing to the fitting room, and then leave after a half-hour, buying nothing, with the clothes thrown in piles all over the floor. Yes, people do that. And yes, they are horrible human beings who deserve no joy in life. 

Besides some of the obvious challenges of working in retail, there is something you may not have considered: Your job's effect on your back. 

Taking Stock: Part of working retail is making sure that the shelves and racks are tidy and well-stocked. That can involve a lot of lifting, bending, twisting, reaching, and climbing. Whether you're re-stocking the top shelves in the cleaning supplies aisle or bending down to clean up the LEGO display that was knocked down by a gaggle of exuberant toddlers (they're dangerous when traveling in packs), all of this bending and lifting and reaching can lead to muscle strains, subluxations, and other forms of back pain. 

No Comfort Here: Go into any retail store and take note of what you're walking on. Most times, it's concrete or tile. And the thing about concrete and tile is that they don't really have a whole lot in the way of shock absorption. Because these floors are so hard and unyielding, your feet, back and knees take the brunt of the forces created when you walk or stand, creating muscle strain, spinal compression, and fatigue.

Our Prices are Falling and So Are We: Wet floors from spills. Merchandise left on the floor. Ladders for stocking high shelves. Retail workplaces can abound with slip, trip, and fall hazards. Even when you're careful, accidents can happen. And falling (or even almost-falling, where you lurch around and manage to catch yourself in time) can create serious strain and subluxations in your muscles and joints. 

So, how can chiropractic care help with your work-related back pain? For starters, you increase the odds of back pain or injury if you don't have a solid foundation from which to start. Regular chiropractic treatment from the professionals at The Joint Chiropractic can help your spine, joints and associated nerves work their best, reducing muscle strain and improving your center of gravity and range of motion. 

And if you do experience strain or injury, chiropractic treatment offers gentle and pinpointed adjustments to your affected joints, helping to reduce pain and speed healing. And because it's drug-free, you can even get treated right before heading into work, with no grogginess or side effects. 

Treat yourself to a visit to The Joint today, and enjoy a happy, healthy back, no matter what your day in retail might bring.