Module 6

Back Injury – Common Risk Factors

Factors predisposing for back injury

Individual Risk

Factors

Inherent

Risk Factor

s

Occupational

Risk Factor

s

Individual Risks - MultifactorialAge : Spinal

arthritis, disc degenerative

disease.

Overweight, excess fat

bulges over thighs,

buttocks and abdomen.

Holding static positions for long

hours, like prolonged

standing or sitting.

Co morbid conditions like : Tuberculosis,

rheumatism, osteoporosis, malignancy.

Smoking : Nicotine addiction

Habitual or workplace

driven: repeating the same

movements over and over again.

Hereditary

Poor physical activity, lethargy, fatigue, inactive lifestyle.

Weak body musculature, weak

core stability muscles and muscular imbalances.

Uneven spinal loading due to incorrect body mechanics and

posture.

Check individual risk factors

Typical posture of an old woman due to spine degeneration, lifting a heavy back pack everyday, repeating similar movement as in sweeping the floor and stress on the back due to abdominal pull in a pregnant woman.

Inherent RisksThese are more common with health care

providers and are most of the times unavoidable.

Lesser base of support, More manual assistance during patient

transfers,Lack of mechanical assistance, Gait training, Mobilizing the patient etc. are certain

factors which are known to put the back to high risk of injury when practiced on regular basis.

Occupational RisksThere is a vital role of workplace in most of the

back injuries.The injuries occurring at workplace are distinctive

ad matchless when compared to any other source.Highest rates of workplace injuries have been

reported by: Truck drivers,Nurses,Young construction workersSedentary jobs: Sitting, twisting, turning and

reaching out instead of actively moving around.