Physical Activity and Back Pain

Being a tradie can be physically demanding. Physical activity and back pain seem to go hand in hand with the long working hours, lifting, bending, and hard manual labour tradie’s face can result in a number of lower back and hip impingement issues.

Unlike many other professions, tradie’s rely on their body. Injury to any part of the body can have ramifications that may affect their work and livelihood. If you are a tradie, which involves repetitive, bending, lifting or carrying then the odds are you would have experienced some sort of body pain at some time in your job. Back injuries are the most common injuries for tradies with nearly a quarter of tradie’s experiencing back pain. The repetitive nature of manual labour in trade occupations predisposes the muscles, ligaments, vertebrae and discs in your back to strains and sprains.

 

Symptoms

The symptoms for back injuries can include:

• Localised pain in the back
• Stiffness
• Numbness or tingling
• Referred pain in the legs or neck
• Dull aching sensation in the lower back
• Decreased range of motion and diminished ability to flex the back.

Symptoms of back pain if due to strain or misuse are usually short-lived but can last for days or weeks. Back pain is chronic when symptoms have been present for longer than three months.

How can Remedial Massage help?

Remedial massage can help ease muscular pain by using soft and deep tissue techniques. Releasing tight sore muscles such as hip flexors, glutes and hamstrings, quadratus lumborum, psoas major muscles releasing pressure on the muscles and nerves. Remedial massage will also help improve posture and flexibility which in turn can reduce pain in the lower back and by also addressing the restrictions and shortening in the myo fascia.

On the Job Solution

Stretching and warming up is a great on the job solution. It’s important to stretch and warm up before and after work. Your back may be at risk of sustaining injuries when your body is not warmed up after prolonged hours of sitting.

Take a few minutes to warm up and do some stretches to increase flexibility, circulation and range of motion. this will loosen up muscles and prepare you for the activity ahead.

Lifting requires energy and muscle effort and done incorrectly it can stress muscles, tendons and ligaments increasing forces on your spine. Check your lifting technique is correct and ask for help when lifting heavy things.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can book a Remedial massage with Jenny Battiato online or call Alchemy In Motion for further information.