10 Worst Jobs For Your Back
The members of the North American Spine Society were surveyed about which jobs they believed were the most harmful for a person’s back. Here is a quick rundown on the top 10 worst jobs for your back.
- Driver
- Construction Worker
- Nurse
- Office Worker
- Manual Laborer
- Dentistry
- Warehouse Worker
- Mechanic
- Factory Worker
- Motherhood
Jobs that are Back For Your Back
When we look at this list of jobs that professionals see has being harmful to your back we see some common themes.
Poor Posture
Some of these jobs lend themselves to awkward or incorrect posture. For example, an office worker may be looking down at a laptop screen on their desk. Or, a dentist may be hunched over to perform their work. (Read more about why posture is so important for back health.)
Immobility
Other jobs on this list require the person to sit or stand in the same position for long periods of time. This lack of motion can cause the body to tighten up and become stiff. After too long in one position, the person may experience pain when trying to shift to a different position. For example, after sitting in a driver’s seat for a long time, a driver may have pain when they then try to get out of their vehicle and walk.
Lifting
The other common theme we see in this group of jobs that can hurt your back is lifting heavy objects. Whether you’re a warehouse worker lifting boxes or a mother lifting your toddlers, lifting can be hard on your back.
How Can We Reduce the Chance of Hurting Your Back on the Job?
Each job is different, and your employer probably can help recommend ways to keep a healthy back on the job. In addition, there are a few rules that apply to most every case.
- If you sit or stand in one position for long periods of make sure you move around a little bit every once in a while.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Use proper lifting techniques.
- Try to make your work environment as ergonomic as possible so you’re set up with proper posture.
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