Work Related Injury: Dealing with Office Back Pain

By James M. Hoffmann  Jan. 9, 2016 1:28p

While work related back pain is pretty common among office workers in the state of Missouri and around the country, many employees are unfamliar with how to handle it. Desk life can do extensive damage to our bodies, and it is important to realize that work culture needs to be revamped to make lives of office employees better.

Both everyday experience and statistics prove that back pain is an increasingly common problem among office workers and it can lead to more serious consequences.

How sedentary work affects our backs

Our body is not designed for sedentary lifestyle, but in this technologically advanced world, workers have to spend extended time period on the desk. This low energy lifestyle can seriously affect even a healthy person's back and cause pain, stiffness, and other problems.

Our body is designed to be active and sedentary lifestyle causes the back muscles to tense up, because the back has to support the rest of the body in one posture for a long time. It also affects the spine and takes a long time to heal. Women are more likely to develop varicose veins that can cause circulatory blockages that ultimately lead to back pain.

Although many companies are actively promoting ergonomic working conditions, many employees continue to maintain poor posture while doing typing work. This puts additional strain on the back and leads to long term damage to the ligaments of lower back.

Sitting for long periods also contributes to obesity, which puts additional strain on the back, because our muscles and joints are not designed to ensure extra weight and bodies age, becoming frail.

Preventing back pain

If you work in an office environment full time, you can take certain steps to minimize back pain.

• Stay active: One of the most important things you can to prevent back is to take frequent breaks and walk during lunch time. At the end of the day, go for a walk or jog rather than watching TV.

• Ask your employer to make adjustments to reduce back pain: Small adjustments such as getting a new ergonomic chair and adjustment in schedule to allow a break or for stretches can go a long way.

• Do not stay in bed if you feel moderate pain: Rather than calling in sick, you should try and stay active as much as possible.

• Seek medical attention: If the pain is exceptionally bad, it could be a signor something more serious, so you should seek medical help.

These small steps can help both prevent and overcome back pain. Employers too can play an active role in making work environment better and preventing back pain in office staff.

If you have developed chronic pain as a result of the work you do, you may be entitled to workers compensation benefits. However, you may need the services of an experiencedSt. Louis worker comp attorneyto prove that your pain is work related and that you are entitled to benefits!

Call (314) 361-4300 to request a free case evaluation with an experienced attorney.