According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), back injuries account for one of every five injuries and illnesses in the workplace. Eight out of every 10 people will suffer from back pain at some time in their lives. Eighty percent of these injuries occur to the lower back and are associated with manual materials handling tasks and 3 out of 4 occurred when the employee was lifting. BLS further states that re-aggravation of a previous injury almost always results from a new incident which involves the employee (i.e. slip, twist, trip, extended reach).

Lifting-related injuries include sprains, strains, neural related, neuromuscular related injuries and/or bone related injuries. These injuries can affect any part of the body, but the majority occur to the lower back. The term best describing these ailments is idiopathic, which means without apparent cause. There is, however, a correlation between injury claims for low back pain and physical activities such as lifting, bending, twisting, pushing, pulling, etc. Cures remain unclear and back pain whether treated or untreated, can subside quickly or linger. Back pain can re-occur at anytime and once you have injured your back you are very likely to re-injure it at some point in the future. The following tips can help you maintain a healthy back:

The bottom line is that YOU bear the responsibility for preventing back injury.
If you are suffering from acute back pain, seek medical attention first!!!