About This Blog:
- Did you know Friday, Oct. 16, 2015, is World Spine Day? This day was created to raise awareness for the prevention and management of spinal conditions.
- This year’s World Spine Day theme is “Your Back at Work,” which addresses spinal disorders caused by certain occupations.
- In an effort to raise awareness for this cause, Dr. Mark Giovanini of NeuroMicroSpine is sharing interesting facts and ways to prevent spinal injuries within the workplace.
This October 2015 marks the first celebrated World Spine Day since it’s initial inception in 2012! In light of this, Dr. Mark Giovanini of NeuroMicroSpine wants to share fun facts about the spine and provide ways patients can prevent spinal injuries within the workplace!
Additionally, the team at NeuroMicroSpine encourages patients to raise awareness for World Spine Day by sharing this information with others! It’s important we look out for one another and inspire friends and family to see a physician if their backs are exhibiting severe or painful symptoms.
Before jumping into the tips for preventing spinal injuries within the workplace, we’d like to share a few interesting facts about the spine!
- According to WorldSpineDay.org, more than 632 million people in the world are affected by back pain.
- Additionally, more than 332 million people worldwide are affected by neck pain!
- Back pain is the second greatest cause of disability, according to the medical journal The Lancet.
- Half of the working population in the U.S. experiences back or neck pain once a year.
Because spinal injury occurs frequently within the workplace, it’s important patients practice certain accident prevention techniques to keep themselves safe. It’s also imperative patients seek treatment at the first sign of a spinal injury. Prolonging treatment could worsen symptoms and the condition itself, which can cause significant, debilitating symptoms. Consider these tips to prevent extensive damage to your back.
- If your job requires a lot of heavy lifting, make you’re lifting with your thighs, not your lower back. Keep your legs hips-width apart and lift slowly. Do not twist your spine or lift things that are too heavy for you. Always use a dolly or some kind of leveraging device before lifting an object that is too heavy.
- If your job requires sitting at a desk chair all day, try not to hunch over when doing your work. Keep your shoulders, mid, and lower back pressed against the back of the chair for a neutral alignment. Reclining your chair back may also help this process.
- If your job requires standing all day, try to move around frequently and wear comfortable, sturdy shoes. You’ll also want to keep your feet hips-width apart so that you’re staying balanced.
For more information on minimally invasive spine surgery or to make an appointment with Dr. Giovanini, please call (850) 934-7545 or visit https://www.neuromicrospine.com/request-appointment.
We hope to see you soon!
The advice and information contained in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended to replace or counter a physician’s advice or judgment. Please always consult your physician before taking any advice learned here or in any other educational medical material.