by Dr Alex Jimenez DC, APRN, FNP-BC, CFMP, IFMCP | Chiropractic
During a nurse�s routine rounds, it only takes one incorrect move, one improper lift, one sudden twist to unexpectedly suffer a back injury. Back pain is one of the most frequent causes of pain among the general population, where approximately 80 percent of individuals are likely to experience at least one case of acute back pain in their lifetime. In the United States alone, about 25% of the population account to having had a minimum of one day of lower back pain within the past three months. Additionally, lower back pain is the fifth leading cause for individuals to seek medical attention.
However, the prevalence of back complications among nurses or other healthcare workers is even greater. Registered nurses and nursing assistants are among the top six occupations at greater risk for musculoskeletal injury. According to data collected by the American Nurses Association, more than half of nurses report experiencing symptoms of chronic back pain. Furthermore, approximately 12 percent of the nursing workforce reported leaving the profession due to chronic back pain.
Dr. Alex Jimenez D.C.,C.C.S.T’s insight:
For many nurses and other healthcare workers, the high demands of the job are often factors that lead to the development of back complications and symptoms that can make their line of work difficult. While nurses are in charge of caring for other individuals with injuries or conditions, those who’ve been injured themselves also need proper care in order to find relief for their conditions. For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at (915) 850-0900.�
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by Dr Alex Jimenez DC, APRN, FNP-BC, CFMP, IFMCP | Chiropractic
Automobile accidents are often unpredictable circumstances which can involve many complications. Whether it�s a minor or severe collision, many individuals are forced to deal with all the implications that come after being involved in an auto accident on their own, a frustrating process that frequently ends with victims being on the losing end of their benefits. Injured and without a car, approaching the best course of action following an auto accident doesn�t need to be a difficult circumstance and we know the best procedures to help you recover from your situation.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately 2.6 million individuals are injured each year in automobile accidents, accounting for 95 percent of all injury causing accidents on the roads. During a car crash, the sudden force of the impact can commonly cause subluxations or spinal misalignments in the body, a condition where the complex structures surrounding the spine are affected, distorting the normal alignment of the vertebra, irritating nerves, ligaments, and discs, overall affecting their natural function and your health.
Dr. Alex Jimenez D.C.,C.C.S.T’s insight:
Throughout the years I�ve treated many individuals, it�s always been a priority for me to accommodate to each person�s best interests and help them understand the best choice of options for their entitled benefits following an auto collision. With my experience, I can offer guidance and recommendations on the leading specialists that can support you with your individual automobile accident case as well as help you recover from any possible injuries or conditions resulting after the auto collision. For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at (915) 850-0900.
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by Dr Alex Jimenez DC, APRN, FNP-BC, CFMP, IFMCP | Chiropractic
Nurses nowadays encounter the common question on how they can prevent or even manage lower back pain. In fact, back complications are one of the most reported occupational health complications for nurses, especially through their retirement years. Many healthcare workers resort to self-medicating with over-the-counter pain relievers but, while these may offer relief from their symptoms, the effects are only temporary. Through several lifestyle changes, many nurses could achieve long-term relief from their lower back pain by managing their symptoms and prevent further low back complications.
First, stretching and exercising regularly should be fundamental for a nurse. Staying in a single position for long periods of time, as it�s usual in the healthcare workplace, can place an unequal amount of pressure on the muscles, resulting in muscle weakness and uneven distribution of weight. Stretching frequently on the job can help loosen up tight muscles and temporarily relieve back pain. Then, following a series of stretches with exercise can help regulate and further reduce back pain because it strengthens the structures supporting the back muscles. Engaging in strength training exercises can help keep low back pain away longer. Additionally, stretching and exercising the body enough before symptoms of back pain appear in the fist place can also help prevent back complications from developing.
Dr. Alex Jimenez D.C.,C.C.S.T’s insight:
Nurses nowadays encounter the common question on how they can prevent or even manage lower back pain. In fact, back complications are one of the most reported occupational health complications for nurses, especially through their retirement years.�Through several lifestyle changes, many nurses could achieve long-term relief from their lower back pain by managing their symptoms and prevent further low back complications. For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at (915) 850-0900.
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by Dr Alex Jimenez DC, APRN, FNP-BC, CFMP, IFMCP | Chiropractic
A study conducted in an acute care facility in Hong Kong to determine the occurrence of back pain in nurses reported that 80.9% of the participating individuals suffered from some form of back pain throughout their careers with one third of them experiencing back pain at least once a month. The study also concluded that the contributing factors for back injuries among those nurses were caused from lifting and transferring patients, where stooping was recognized at the most common factor contributing to back complications. Most diagnosed cases of back pain were reported on orthopedic wards, closely followed by elderly or geriatric nursing. According to the study, back pain as a result of standing for extended periods of time was not considered significant.
Another study conducted to determine the impact of back pain in nurses concluded that depression is associated with chronic low back pain and other symptoms which could exhibit as low morale and lower job performance among nurses. Additionally, the study also showed that two thirds of the nurse sample population suffered from back pain more than twice a year.
Dr. Alex Jimenez D.C.,C.C.S.T’s insight:
Nurses are considered to be the most crucial component in the delivery of primary care within any public or private healthcare setting. Throughout this environment, regardless of the availability of several types of lifting equipment, the nurse�s role will generally include manually lifting or assisting in movement of patients as a major portion of regular healthcare activities. As a result of the demanding tasks of the job, many nurses often experience low back pain and other symptoms. For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at (915) 850-0900.�
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by Dr Alex Jimenez DC, APRN, FNP-BC, CFMP, IFMCP | Chiropractic
Many nurses believe that utilizing proper body mechanics while lifting and moving a patient can help prevent injuries from occurring. The truth is that there�s not an exact safe manual for lifting plus, during the rush of a busy day for nurses or other healthcare workers, even if the most suitable body mechanics are used on a specific situation, manually lifting, turning, or transferring patients can often result with injuries to the spine. The effects of an injury might not occur immediately, but the constant overexertion on the structures of the spine can eventually aggravate an injury further and lead to a debilitating condition.
Musculoskeletal injuries, also referred to as ergonomic or overexertion injuries, are common among workers in all healthcare settings, from acute care hospitals to long-term care and ambulatory facilities. Nurses, nurses� aides, orderlies, and attendants frequently experience these type of injuries at a much higher rate than the general population of workers, even more than those who work in construction, mining, and manufacturing settings.
Dr. Alex Jimenez D.C.,C.C.S.T’s insight:
Nurses are a valuable element in healthcare work settings and just as important as their jobs are towards providing the best care for patients, providing the best resources and equipment to prevent musculoskeletal injuries on healthcare workers is also equally as important. With less nurses experiencing these type of injuries, better and more efficient medical care can be offered for individuals in need. For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at (915) 850-0900.�
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by Dr Alex Jimenez DC, APRN, FNP-BC, CFMP, IFMCP | Chiropractic
A nurse�s job can be very demanding, specifically in the hospital setting, where they must focus on applying intense intellectual and physical requirements over extended periods of time. Studies have shown that in a given year, approximately half of all nurses will have struggled with some form of back complication. In fact, a recent research published in two journals, The American Journal of Nursing and Clinical Nurse Specialist, declared that when nurses suffer, so do their patients.
The researchers of the study created a questionnaire for registered nurses working in hospital settings, which asked them about their personal health and the level to which their injuries or illnesses seemed to affect their work. After evaluating more than 1,000 answers, the researchers found that nearly 20 percent of the nurses questioned presented symptoms of depression, a prevalence twice as high as that of the general population. Additionally, approximately three-quarters of the nurses experienced some grade of physical pain due to a muscle sprain or strain while at work.
Dr. Alex Jimenez D.C.,C.C.S.T’s insight:
Nurses are the largest group of healthcare providers in the United States, occupying many workplaces, from doctor�s offices to biotech firms, governmental agencies and private insurers. Trusted more than almost any other professional, nurses implement a broad influence on the way healthcare is conveyed and represented.�Studies have shown that in a given year, approximately half of all nurses will have struggled with some form of back complication. For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at (915) 850-0900.
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by Dr Alex Jimenez DC, APRN, FNP-BC, CFMP, IFMCP | Chiropractic
Because many healthcare jobs can be very demanding, always working at peak performance is essential. From a rush into the emergency room to a simple clinical visit, most patients are assisted by healthcare workers even before seeing the doctor, including being the first ones to be exposed to infections and viruses. Getting sick is not an option and nurses need a healthy and strong immune system to stay well and do their job.
The human body is designed to remain healthy. When the immune system is functioning to its fullest capacity, it�s intended to fight off, hunt down and destroy foreign organisms and viruses. But, if the immune system is functioning at less than its best, the individual�s health is at risk and as a health professional, so are those individuals that depend on their care. By incorporating chiropractic into your lifestyle, one can learn a healthy new habit for improving and achieving the maximum potential of overall wellness.
Dr. Alex Jimenez D.C.,C.C.S.T’s insight:
Nurses provide love, care, empathy and dependability for many of their patients. While they are constantly on their feet for extended periods of time, working quickly to serve as many individuals in need as possible,�many healthcare jobs can be very demanding and always working at peak performance is essential.�Getting sick is not an option, nurses need a healthy immune system to do their job properly and chiropractic treatment can help. For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at (915) 850-0900.
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by Dr Alex Jimenez DC, APRN, FNP-BC, CFMP, IFMCP | Healthcare Providers, Spine Care
According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, or NIOSH, more than 24 percent of all injuries associated with the workplace and illnesses requiring individuals to miss days from work are due to back complications. As a matter of fact, healthcare workers have 4.5 times as many back injuries caused by overexertion than any other type of worker.
In addition, a performance improvement alliance consisting of more than 2,600 U.S. hospitals and more than 84,000 other healthcare sites known as Premier, national statistics demonstrated that six of the top ten professions with the highest chance for back injuries are nurse�s aides, licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, health aides, radiology technicians, and physical therapists. Among nurses, more than one one third of back complications are associated with the handling of patients and the frequency in which they are required to manually move patients. From a worldwide perspective, back injuries to nurses have a point prevalence of approximately 17 percent, an annual prevalence of 40-50 percent, and a lifetime prevalence of 35-80 percent.
These are only the accounted rates for reported incidents as many individuals working under healthcare jobs can experience back pain and other symptoms and never receive medical attention. Back complications are a world-wide issue as other studies from Greece, China, and Denmark have recently showed the relation between nurses and back injuries, to name a few.
Dr. Alex Jimenez D.C.,C.C.S.T’s insight:
Nurses provide a valuable service to many individuals but, at the end of the day, healthcare workers most often experience work-related injuries and symptoms that can affect the lifestyles of many nurses. In fact, healthcare workers have 4.5 times as many back injuries caused by overexertion than any other type of worker. For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at (915) 850-0900.�
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by Dr Alex Jimenez DC, APRN, FNP-BC, CFMP, IFMCP | Healthcare Providers, Work Related Injuries
Prolonged standing and walking for healthcare workers can cause or aggravate previous health complications and soft tissue injuries and its effects can usually become instantly noticeable. An abundance of individuals often experience swollen or painful feet or legs, bunions or bony bumps that develop on the joint at the base of the big toe, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis, varicose veins, knee complications, low back pain, neck and shoulder stiffness, poor posture and the effects that follow, restricted blood flow, heightened risk of knee or hip arthritis and, muscle soreness and fatigue.
Through many healthcare jobs, as well as with other types of jobs, standing is frequently a normal component within a healthcare worker�s day but, when the physical layout or work practices of a task require individuals to reach across wide surfaces in uncomfortable positions or repetitively participate in tasks without breaks, individuals may be at a higher risk of developing musculoskeletal injuries or conditions. Additionally, standing can be much worse when the individual has limited space to move around or while working on hard surfaces and/or wearing unsuitable footwear.
Dr. Alex Jimenez D.C.,C.C.S.T’s insight:
For many individuals, standing for extended periods of time is a major part of the job. Standing for a large part of the day is a well-known story for cashiers, bank tellers, restaurant servers, mail sorters, and retail salespeople, but most commonly, healthcare workers.�Overall health is important for everyone and prevention is the key for ultimately achieving complete well being especially for healthcare providers who wholeheartedly focus on treating and helping�others. For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at (915) 850-0900.�
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by Dr Alex Jimenez DC, APRN, FNP-BC, CFMP, IFMCP | Healthcare Providers, Personal Injury, Work Related Injuries
According to a recent Public Citizen Report, the healthcare workplace is one of the most common industries where injuries or illnesses occur, with 653,000 nurses, aides, orderlies and others, become injured or fall ill every year. Approximately 45 percent of all workplace incidents in the United States which result in lost workdays occur in the healthcare sector. Among attendants, orderlies, and nursing aides in a 2011 study, the incidence rate of injuries requiring days off work was 486 cases per 10,000 employees, over four times higher than the national average for all workers.�
More musculoskeletal injuries are suffered by orderlies, attendants, nurses and nursing aides than workers in any other industry. Back injuries in the healthcare industry are estimated to cost over $7 billion every year.
Although healthcare workplaces are considered to have a higher risk of injury or illness than any other type of workplace, OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Health Administration) offers a few inspections of healthcare facilities. The authors of the report additionally explained that when OSHA does find safety problems, there�s often not much they can do as a result of the absence of much needed safety standards.
In 2010, there were 152,000 workplace injuries and illnesses in the manufacturing sector in comparison to a massive 653,000 in healthcare.
OSHA is attempting to better address the injury rates among nursing home workers with a National Emphasis Program (NEP), which will focus on addressing ergonomic stressors, falls, trips, slips, and workplace violence, as well as tuberculosis and blood borne pathogens.�In conclusion, the report recommends for OSHA to considerably increase its number of inspections of healthcare facilities as well as pursue binding standards in order to ensure that workers are protected from the risks of developing musculoskeletal injuries and/or disorders and other types of threats that could greatly affect the overall wellbeing of healthcare workers.
Dr. Alex Jimenez D.C.,C.C.S.T’s insight:
Healthcare workers are constantly helping individuals with both their physical and emotional complications requiring medical attention. While patients are recovering from their injuries or illnesses, healthcare providers can occasionally experience issues at the workplace. In fact, injuries and illnesses among healthcare workplaces are relatively higher than those in other workplaces. For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at (915) 850-0900.�
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