Orange County Chiropractors Reveal: Back Pain In Nurses Traced To Obese Patients
In her time, pioneering nurse Florence Nightingale had to battle poor sanitation and mass infections to treat patients. Today’s nurses have a bigger and heavier foe: obesity.
Orange County chiropractors revealed that obese patients are sending about 5,000 nurses to their clinics every year for the treatment of back pain. This is usually caused by the manual handling of patients.
“We probably see one or two nurses a week who are new clients but there are dozens on each practice list. The weight of patients is a contributory factor to back pain,” according to Dr Matthew Bennett of the British Chiropractic Association.
“It’s not just a weight issue – it’s a fitness issue with people unable to turn themselves over easily. I think the number of nurses with back pain will probably increase in the future as people get bigger,” added Dr Tim Hutchful, another chiropractor.
By the very nature of their work, chiropractors in Orange County say it’s not surprising that nurses are common candidates for back trouble. These people spend more time with patients than doctors and often put their safety on the line when they assist or carry patients.
With obese patents, the burden of nurses literally becomes heavier and strains their back in more ways than one. But their great sacrifice isn’t paying off. On the contrary, chiropractors in Orange County said it’s making things more difficult for them.
Heavy workloads are forcing many nurses to retire earlier. The Department of Health said nurses should avoid manual handling of patients for their health and safety. But this warning appears to have fallen on deaf ears as more and more nurses become victims of back pain.
“No one working in a hospital, nursing home, or community setting should need to put their safety at risk when lifting patients manually. Hoists, sliding aids and other specialized equipment mean staff should no longer have to risk injury while doing their job. Manual handling of patients should only continue if it does not involve a risk of injury,” said an unnamed spokesperson.
If you have back pain, don’t wait for things to get worse. Seek professional help from your friendly Orange County chiropractor today.