You know that back injuries are fairly common on the job, especially if you’re doing some type of manual labor. You also know how debilitating they can be. A severe enough back injury can make it hard even to step up into your car, let alone live your life the way you would want or continue working hard in your career.
As a result, this is obviously something that you want to avoid. Are there steps you can take in advance to prevent back injuries from occurring?
Stretching and strength training
One thing that can help is simply doing proper exercises on a daily basis. For example, you can start with a five-minute warm-up of activity, then do dedicated stretches for your back after your muscles, ligaments and tendons are properly loosened up. These stretches could include the knee-to-chest stretch, for example, or the standing back arch.
Strength training can also help. The stronger your back is, the more your muscles can do to stabilize your spine and absorb any sort of impact or force. But don’t depend too much on raw strength. Many people suffer back injuries because they believe they are strong enough to lift something on their own, so they neglect to get help or use safety devices. Strength can help, but you still need to be careful any time your back is in jeopardy.
Additionally, all of this preparation in advance doesn’t guarantee you won’t suffer a back injury. These are very common in workplace scenarios due to lifting heavy objects, falling from heights or getting involved in motor vehicle accidents. Those who have been injured certainly need to know about all of their legal options.
