Stressing Back Pain
By Robert Warne - February 25, 2003In the February issue of the American Journal of Industrial Medicine a study was published that linked work related back injury to a stressful work environment.
The study conducted by Dr. Janet M. Johnston concluded that people who are unhappy with their work environment tend to be more sensitive to back pain.
Memory of pain played a key role in measuring back pain. So people unhappily employed, were more inclined to notice the pain, focus on it and have fewer reservations about reporting it.
According to Reuters Health, Johnston explained in an interview that people who feel they have no control over their work environment or are unhappy with their work could experience an increased level of stress. In turn, this stress could increase tension in their bodies and cause them to carry themselves in a way that would increase their risk of injury.
Also people who had to work hard to stick to a task and concentrate for long periods of time had a higher frequency of reporting back pain.
People working in hectic environments where outside interruptions were commonplace are also exposed to more back injuries.
And for multitasking, it doesn’t help the back either. Jobs that required people to work for long periods of time and move through a variety of tasks can lead workers to being more susceptible to back injury as well.
So for all it’s worth, the study recommends that employers treat the physical and psychological risks of pain with the same degree of seriousness.
To create a calmer, more relaxed workplace employers may find it difficult to integrate meditation and incense into their corporate culture without sacrificing productivity and profits. But taking a look at the larger picture, with the rising costs associated with workers’ compensation and back related injuries, the cost of a desktop Zen garden and a few Tony Robbins CDs doesn’t sound too bad. | 
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