Back Care Awareness Week 2009

By admin | Published: October 9, 2009

Back Care Awareness Week is soon upon us 10th to 16th October 2009, Organised by Back Care, the charity for healthier backs, the week promotes awareness of back pain and issues surrounding it.

http://www.backcare.org.uk/5011/BackCare-Awareness-Week.html

The charity Back Care estimates that back pain costs the NHS, business and the economy over �5 billion a year. Back pain affects many people throughout the UK, the Health and Safety Executive estimates that 80% of the UK population will be affected by pack pain at some point in their lives. In 2004/05 an estimated 452 000 people in Great Britain suffered, in their opinion, from a musculoskeletal disorder mainly affecting the back that was caused or made worse by their current or past work.

It is estimated that 4.5 million working days (full-day equivalent) were lost in the previous 12 months due to work-related musculoskeletal disorders which mainly affected the back. Each person suffering from such a condition took an estimated 17.4 days off work on average in this period.

http://hse.gov.uk/press/2006/e06107.htm

We are often reminded of 24 hour back care, simply meaning we should not only consider the risks associated with work, but also the activities we get up to at home, such as DIY, gardening, or shopping. In today�s world we are all exposed to computers, whether at work, whilst studying or for social interaction using social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Myspace. Yet how often do we consider the impact on our posture when we sit at computers? Can back pain really be caused through this? Anecdotal evidence suggests that many people use computers in the work place without a suitable work station or desk. The same can be said for the use of lap tops at home either on the dining room table, or surfing the web with the lap top on your �lap�. The HSE website provides further information and free leaflets on Display Screen Equipment, including information on the regulations, case studies and a work station check list. If you have not had a recent display screen equipment assessment undertaken at work, or feel you are suffering from aches and pains (including eye strain) then have a look at the information provided in the Display Screen Equipment section of the HSE website.

http://hse.gov.uk/msd/dse/

How many of us have at sometime experienced back pain?

If you have had an episode of back pain, how did you feel and how has it affected your lifestyle?

Mark Ebbrell, Consultant Nurse Practitioner

Reply: Rebecca James: Posted October 21, 2009 at 3:09 pm

Hi Mark � I found this article very interesting! Hadn�t considered the damage I might be doing using Facebook in the evenings! Will be getting myself a suitable desk at home now.

Reply: Gareth Pennell: Posted October 29, 2009 at 8:56 pm

Hi, Did any body see GMTV this morning? Good old Dr Hillary was talking about back injuries being the biggest cause of sickness absence in the workplace. He also said treatment of back injuries is one that people are most unlikely to follow treatment advice. People are much more likely to take pain killers and take to their beds.