Chiropractic for
Back Pain at Work

Schedule an Appointment

Chiropractic care for working professionals

What do a nurse, bus driver, dentist, and handyman all have in common? It's not the lead-in to a joke you've already heard. These are just a few professions that experience the most back pain at work.

Prolonged standing or sitting, lifting heavy loads, poor posture, and more can contribute to back and neck pain – especially when you do those things for work five days a week.

Chiropractic care can reduce back pain at work for:

The first line of treatment for back pain

In 2017, the American College of Physicians updated its guidelines for low back pain treatment to recommend first using drug-free treatments, like spinal adjustments offered by chiropractors (Source).

It's important to cultivate pain management solutions that don't rely on addicting prescription medications. Chiropractic care should be your first starting point if you are experiencing back pain at work from sitting and standing for prolonged periods.

Chiropractors are the highest-rated healthcare professionals for low-back pain treatments and offer treatment that outperforms physical therapy, prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, massage, yoga, and more (Source).

What causes back pain at work?

Several lifestyle factors can influence your back pain, including age, weight, and pre-existing medical conditions. Conditions at work also contribute to the high number of low back pain complaints received by chiropractors.

Some of the contributing factors from your work environment could be:

 
  • Exerting too much force on your back
  • Repeating certain movements like twisting or rotating the spine
  • Inactivity, especially without good posture and an appropriate desk chair

Worst jobs for your back

Back pain at work can be experienced in many professions. Whether your workday consists of heavy lifting or sitting for extended periods at a computer screen, it can be contributing to your back and neck pain.

Some professionals suffering from the most back pain include:

 
  • Drivers
  • Construction workers & manual laborers
  • Nurses
  • Office workers
  • Dentists and hygienists
  • Auto mechanics
  • Factory and warehouse workers

How a chiropractor treats low back pain

Your spine allows your body to move, twist, and bend for everyday activities, and it houses the central nervous system that controls every organ, tissue, and cell of your body. Chiropractors focus on treating the spine because of its substantial effect on the health of your nervous system and consequently the rest of your body.

Chiropractors use a variety of techniques to perform a chiropractic adjustment to relieve tension and improve motion in the spine.

Learn more about our chiropractic techniques.
See More
Office workers 2 square 900

Back pain in an office setting

Most people expect those doing heavy lifting and maneuvering to experience back pain at work. But why are people experiencing back pain from simply working in a chair? It's not just a single forceful motion that can harm your back – repetitive stress can also be a contributing factor.

Sitting is a static posture that increases stress in your back, shoulders and other parts of your body. It particularly can add large amounts of pressure to back muscles and spinal disks when you slouch. Over time, this poor posture can lead to increased back pain.

Best practices to avoid back pain at work include standing, stretching, and taking a walk. You should try to take these breaks for at least a couple of minutes every half hour. A twenty-minute walk during the day promotes healthy blood flow.

 
  • Static posture stresses your back and other parts of the body
  • Remember to move and stretch throughout the day
  • Keep joints and muscles loose to promote comfort and productivity
Rehab exercises square 900

Recovering from a
workplace injury

While chiropractors are an important resource for those experiencing back pain at work from repetitive stress, they also treat workplace injuries. If you hurt your back from a slip, fall, or a heavy strain, chiropractic care may be the best starting point for pain relief.

A doctor of chiropractic can offer adjustments, stretches, and recommendations for how to eliminate stressors and recovery from your injury.

 
  • Chiropractic adjustments
  • Coaching for stretches and rehabilitative exercises
  • Recommended changes to working conditions and practices
Pain at work square 900

How to help with
back pain at work

With or without the help of a chiropractor, here are some tips you should follow to reduce your back pain at work.
 
  • Pay attention to your posture
  • Choose an office chair with lumbar support for your spine
  • Rest your feet flat and your thighs parallel to the floor
  • Remove objects like your wallet or phone from back pockets when sitting
  • Sit with back support (such as a rolled-up towel) at the curve of your back
  • Consider using a standing desk
  • Lift properly using core muscles and holding objects close to your body
  • Adjust computer screens to be at eye level so you don't angle your head down
  • Modify repetitive tasks and avoid unnecessary bending, twisting, and reaching
  • Take breaks every 30 minutes to change positions, stretch, and relieve tension

Schedule an
appointment with Elk River Chiropractor

Schedule an Appointment