The statistics surrounding back injuries among adults is alarming and reflects how grave this problem is in society today. About 80% of adults will experience this type of injury, and at least 1 million of recorded cases are caused by manual labor, with trailer truck drivers as the top type of workers suffering from it. Even employees who sit still at their desks for at least 8 hours in a day can sustain these injuries too. Low back pain, which is the leading cause of disability, is common among office workers.

Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia talks about the prevalence of back injuries among those in the workforce and what people are doing to cause them. He discusses how incorrectly pushing, pulling and lifting objects, as well as bending your back and twisting your waist can lead to serious consequences. If you can’t avoid doing manual labor, especially if your job calls for it, then it’s important to know how you can safely execute your tasks to prevent injury.

Dr. Lakhia also shares practical tips and strategies to keep in mind as you go about your work day. These include checking your posture, stretching and using equipment like footrests. Further, he stresses the importance of being proactive at preventing back injuries from happening in the first place by using common sense and taking care of your health at home.

• Top occupations that report cases of back injuries 02:03
• Other effects of back injuries at work 03:40
• Preventing workplace back injuries 11:35
• Questions on ergonomics 14:49
• Tips when lifting heavy objects 16:36
• Most important strategy in preventing back injuries 16:51
• Advice from the physical therapy department 17:08
• Things to avoid doing 17:43
• Why prevention and personal fitness is important 18:14

Every episode of Back Talk Doc includes a Health Matters segment intended to provide actionable health information you can immediately put into practice in your life. This week, Dr. Lakhia shares Consumer Lab, an online tool that he uses to check the authenticity and true effectivity of nutritional supplements. This independent company conducts its own evaluations and provides results that may have been overlooked by regulating bodies. (05:50)

• Top statistics on workplace back injuries
• Preventing workplace back injuries, Univ of Virginia
• Ergonomics plus exercise handout
• Dynamic stretching warmup routine video
• Vitamin D review
• Information on the DSHEA of 1994 regulation of supplements

Back Talk Doc is brought to you by Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, with offices in North and South Carolina. To learn more about Dr. Lakhia and treatment options for back and spine issues, go to backtalkdoc.com. To schedule an appointment with Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, you can call us at 1-800-344-6716 or visit our website at carolinaneurosurgery.com.