Back Pain and Chiropractic (continued)

10. Auto mechanics. They work in physically awkward positions all day long bending over cars, sliding under cars, etc. Having to look "up and back" at the underside of the cars causes neck problems, as well.

9. Nursing home workers have to lift elderly people into and out of bed. The workers' bodies can become twisted off center. Sometimes the seniors make sudden movements, which can result in workers' unexpected injuries.

8. Delivery drivers are always running, often carrying heavy and awkward packages. Packages shipped via UPS, FedEx, etc., have increased in weight over the years. The job also involves a lot of driving, which is rough on the back.

7. Firefighters/EMTs. When they have a job to do, the conditions are extreme. They have to deal with fire and the water pressure from hoses and chop obstacles down with an axe to get closer to the fire. They often have to carry people to safely, which is particularly difficult if the victim is obese or incapacitated.

6. Shingle roofers. The worker's body is always at angle, twisted, or in some other awkward position.

5. Farmers lift heavy equipment and bags of feed and grain. When doing fieldwork, they have to constantly turn backwards to watch

4. Police officers sit in their cars for long periods of time, which is rough on the lower back. When called into action, they often face resistance from those they are arresting or they can be attacked, which may harm the back. Police officers also wear belts that can weigh up to 40 pounds, which is a common cause of chronic back pain.

3. Landscapers. Landscaping may involve more heavy lifting than any other profession. Rocks, heavy dirt, sand, peat moss, and mulch are all extremely heavy. Wheelbarrows can twist and turn, wrenching the workers' backs - particularly when they attempt to "catch" the slipping wheelbarrow.

2. Construction workers' jobs can involve hammering, lifting, steelwork, or ironwork - all in very awkward positions. Moving steel beams can wreak havoc on the entire body.

1. Heavy truck and tractor-trailer drivers. The constant compression and vibration from such trucks can damage the back. Prolonged sitting puts pressure on the spine, which can result in disc degeneration. Liquid-carrying trucks are particularly bad. When this type of truck comes to a sudden stop, the fluid in the truck's tank slams back and forth, and the driver feels the

 

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