We often see men in our clinics who have back pain resulting from a physically demanding job. Sometimes the pain has gone on unchecked for years, eased with painkillers but never entirely going away. As osteopaths, we work to discover the root cause of back pain, restoring balance and alignment to the body to provide relief that’s both long-term and drug-free.
Causes of back pain at work
According to HSE, the following work tasks can cause back pain, or exacerbate it:
- lifting heavy or bulky loads
- carrying loads awkwardly, possibly one-handed
- pushing, pulling or dragging heavy loads
- manual handling in awkward places, such as during delivery work
- repetitive tasks, such as packing products
- bending, crouching or stooping
- stretching, twisting and reaching
- being in one position for a long time
- working beyond your capability or when physically overtired
- working with display screen equipment (with poor posture)
- driving long distances or over rough ground, especially if the seat is not, or cannot be, properly adjusted or operating heavy equipment (for example excavators)
If you’ve experienced earlier back pain, you are more at risk of developing another episode. It’s important to look at how your work is organised. For example, do you regularly work under pressure of deadlines or with an unrealistic workload? This can impact your back health, making it more likely that you ignore warning signs of initial aches and pains.
A drug-free treatment for back pain
As osteopaths, we see the musculoskeletal system as one of the key elements of your overall health and well-being. If you’ve injured your back, a properly aligned musculoskeletal structure will support full recovery and avoid the need for painkillers or surgery.
Osteopathy offers a non-invasive manual treatment that works by strengthening the musculoskeletal system to:
- Increase or restore joint mobility;
- Relieve muscle tension;
- Reduce pain and stiffness in muscles and joints;
- Improve blood flow;
- Enhance tissue elasticity.
How does an osteopath treat back pain?
Osteopaths are specialist practitioners who work to restore mobility and flexibility. They will make a diagnosis based on a thorough case history and examination, as well as the analysis of X-rays, scans, and other relevant tests.
They make use of a range of techniques to relieve acute pain and support long-term recovery, including:
- Massage – this aims to free restrictions within joints and muscles.
- Spinal manipulation – this supports the return of full movement to a joint
- Counterstrain technique – this technique moves the patient away from a position where movement is restricted to a position that’s less painful or difficult.
- Cranial osteopathy – gently addressing the bones of the head and spinal column to ease both pain and stress.
- Advice on the best posture, stretches and other activities that help relieve pain.
Osteopathic Medicine and Back Pain
We see people in our clinics with various back pain symptoms, from numbness and stiffness to severe pain. Different areas can be affected – sometimes pressure on the nerves causes numbness, pins and needles or shooting pain in the legs and arms.
Whether it’s lower back pain or upper back pain, our osteopaths will take the time to accurately diagnose and treat the problem so that you achieve long-lasting relief and avoid injury in the future. When it comes to back pain at work, it’s important to understand what’s causing the problem so you can get back to work quickly and prevent recurrence.
Book your appointment now
It couldn’t be easier to book your appointment with Osteo & Physio! Book a session via our app, website or call our friendly reception team on 0345 5577788.
