Chiropractic Care for Nurses
By Sara Butler
Nurses have a hard job. They are the heart of the medical system, but aside from that they also happen to work in a very physically demanding job. That's why it's essential for nurses to care appropriately for their health and wellness -- something that the chiropractors at The Joint Chiropractic can help with. Here are a few chiropractic tips to help nurses feel great.
Common Health Issues
Nurses are no strangers to aches and pains -- and not simply the ones that they treat in their patients! Nursing requires a lot of bending, lifting, and being on your feet, which can lead to some serious health issues such as:
- Low back pain - Nurses often experience low back pain around the waist. This is often the result of standing for hours at a time.
- Sharp low back pain - This is pain that can be constant or happen occasionally. It is a shooting pain that can go down their legs and is often the result of extending over a bed to treat a patient, lifting, or moving a patient. It's usually the result of a muscle strain or sprain, though it can indicate something more serious such as a bulging disc.
- Neck pain - Nurses can experience neck pain that radiates to their shoulders and back to their shoulder blades. The activities that nurses do each day make it difficult to maintain proper posture throughout an entire shift and that directly contributes to this sort of pain.
So what can a nurse do about these conditions? Read on to find out!
How a Chiropractor Can Help
In order to help you with these potential injuries, nurses should see a chiropractor on a regular basis. Chiropractors can help to remove any joint dysfunctions and restrictions caused by your everyday movements and that will allow your body to work as it was meant to. That means less discomfort and a reduced chance of injury.
But it's not simply about the chiropractor, it's also about what a nurse can do outside of work to help promote health such as:
- Avoiding exercises that require the extension of the back
- Work to strengthen core muscles to help better support the back
- Avoid sleeping on the stomach
- Avoid wearing shoes that don't offer the right support
- Use ice as needed on areas that are sore
- Stretch the back to help decompress
- Stretch the neck to help increase range of motion
- Practice good posture
Nurses take great care of people, but they can't forget to take care of themselves. Make regular visits to the chiropractor a part of your self-care.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Marietta, Ga.