Job Satisfaction and Low Back Pain

Backaches and sciatica image.

Low back pain, more commonly associated with jobs involving physical labor, is now striking an increasing number of white-collar workers. Usually associated with heavy lifting, turning, bending and repetitive motions, back pain is becoming a plague among those who lift nothing heavier than a stapler.

While workplace design and employee fitness are factors in office workers developing neck and back injuries, an overlooked element is the psychosocial factor -- how positive a person's mental outlook is, and especially how much they like their career.

Instead of taking drugs to reduce the symptoms, more and more recommendations involve reducing the amount of stress and taking steps to increase job satisfaction.

Experts say that up to 80 percent of adults will seek treatment for work-related neck or back pain at some point in their career.

Dr. Sweet Asks some important questions of interest to Lacey residents - Chiropractor Lacey Dr. Sweet Asks...

Can someone who has had back surgery receive chiropractic care?
Yes. Rest assured that we will avoid the surgically modified areas of your spine. However, what we find is that surgical interventions will often produce spinal instability above or below the involved level. This is will be the focus of your chiropractic care.
What causes subluxations?
Chiropractors acknowledge three types of stress: physical, chemical and emotional. When the adaptive capacity of your body is compromised, weakened areas along the spine can become involved. Muscles tighten, spinal joints lock up and nearby nerves are affected. The purpose of chiropractic care is to find these areas and restore balance, alignment and motion.