Providing critical care to patients around the clock can pose significant challenges for nurses. For most nurses, it can come at the cost of their own physical health. Statistics reveal that nurses are particularly susceptible to lower back and knee pain.
The physical demands of their profession can explain why many nurses sustain musculoskeletal problems. Most nurses spend long hours on their feet, constantly bending and lifting patients. This repetitive strain on the lower back and knees can lead to fatigue and even insistent pain.
The physical Demands of Nursing
Part of offering critical care to patients includes lifting and transferring patients who’ve lost their mobility due to injury or illness. This can be a strenuous task that most nurses have to undertake repeatedly. Over time, this can cause significant musculoskeletal strain.
The substantial physical effort nurses exert to carry the weight of different patients can take a toll on their lower backs and knees. While some medical facilities may have mechanical aids for transferring patients, many nurses in various medical facilities don’t have adequate assistance for this strenuous task.
Additionally, many nurses work long shifts with prolonged periods of standing and walking. Always being on the move and needing to maintain awkward postures while attending to patients can exacerbate the strain on their lower backs and knees.
Repetitive movements
Nurses are particularly susceptible to overuse injuries due to repetitive movements such as:
- Administering injections
- Reaching for supplies
- Adjusting patient positions
Repeatedly performing the same tasks can continuously burden specific muscle groups and joints and contribute to musculoskeletal issues among nurses. Nurses are especially susceptible to overuse injuries if their working environments lack ergonomic customization tailored to their needs. Poor workplace ergonomics may force nurses to work while in awkward positions that strain their bodies.
Lack of adequate rest and recovery
Unfortunately, for many nurses, the demanding nature of their schedules often leaves little room for adequate rest and recovery. Most nurses work consecutive shifts and have little to no time to recuperate. Lack of adequate rest and recovery can prevent their muscles and joints from recovering from the physical strain they experience during work. This can eventually lead to cumulative damage and chronic pain.
Nurses who have sustained lower back and knee pain due to their work might want to explore workers’ compensation as they cope with chronic pain. Compensation can provide some financial relief as they explore various treatment options for their injuries.The post The weight of care: Nurses often experience back and knee pain first appeared on Haxel Law .