BACK CARE
THE BACK IS DESIGNED TO...
MOVE
It enables a wide range of motion and works with muscles and joints to produce movement
BEND
It allows you to flex forward and backward with control by flexing and extending
TWIST
The spine is built to rotate, allowing you to reach, look, and move in different directions
CARRY LOAD
The spine, muscles, and joints work together to support the body
EVERYDAY DEMANDS
| DEMAND | HOME EXAMPLE | WORK EXAMPLE |
|---|---|---|
|
Load |
Shopping, children, furniture |
Manual handling, equipment, patients |
|
Repetition |
Vacuuming, gardening |
Production, picking, cleaning |
|
Position |
Cooking, crafts, DIY |
Desk work, crouching, overhead work |
|
Duration |
TV, driving, gardening |
Sitting, standing, driving |
|
Force |
Pushing bins, digging |
Trolleys, tools, pushing/pulling |
|
Unpredictability |
Children, pets, awkward objects |
Patients, animals, unstable loads |
THE BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL DIMENSION
Back health and function are influenced by an interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors, not just the physical.
Physical:
- Strength
- Fitness
- Previous exposure
- Fatigue
- Recovery
Work / Social:
- Workload
- Autonomy
- Support
- Staffing
- Opportunities for breaks & task variation
Psychological:
- Stress
- Fear of movement / re-injury
- Beliefs about pain
A biopsychosocial approach recognises the whole person – Body, Mind, and Context. Together they shape back health.
WHAT INDIVIDUALS CAN DO
- Move often
- Vary position
- Stay active
- Build strength
- Recover adequately
- Don’t fear normal movement
- Increase new activities gradually
WHAT WORKPLACES SHOULD DO
- Eliminate the hazard
- Remove the amount of exposure
- Re-design the task, equipment, or workplace
- Provide suitable equipment / technologies to assist
- Organise work to balance demands and support recovery
- Provide info and training to build knowledge and skills
RESOURCES
