Repetative Strain Injuries

Repetative Strain Injuries Introduction

What is Spinal Stenosis?

Spinal Stenosis is a form of back pain which often relates to Sciatica. Symptoms include back pain, buttock pain, cramping in the leg and tingling. The condition is either genetic or brought on as part of the ageing process.

At some point in our lives most of us will suffer from a back problem and although this can sometimes prove to be very painful, most are non-serious and are usually cleared within a matter of weeks:

Acute - mild or severe pain which can last from one to seven days, usually caused by an accident.
Sub-Acute - usually mild but occasionally severe pain that lasts from a few days to a few weeks.
Chronic - mild or severe pain that lasts more than three months and may in some cases be related to other illnesses or identifiable causes.

Recent studies have shown that the number of reported cases within the workplace is steadily on the rise and in todays uncertain financial climate missing work is not a realistic option.

Interesting Fact: In 2008/09 over nine million work days were lost due to back and other musculoskeletal related problems, and this is only second within the UK behind stress. However, most are easily preventable and with a little bit of insight and the correct guidance you can help ensure you remain fit and pain free.

Historically back problems have been more prevalent in tasks that may involve:

Lifting heavy or bulky loads.
Carrying loads incorrectly.
Repetitive tasks - packaging goods.
Long distance driving if the appropriate seat supports / rests are not in place.
Bending or crouching, including work at PCs (poor posture).
Pushing, pulling or dragging heavy loads.
Working when physically tired.
Stretching, twisting and reaching.
Sitting at work stations for extended periods in one position.

Which in turn can lead to a strained back muscle or ligament.

About Spinal Stenosis

What can you do to prevent Back Pain?

As a general rule the best way to prevent or combat the effects of a problem back is to stay active as the longer you remain immobile the weaker the muscles become.

Spinal Stenosis in Brief.

What should you do if you suffer from Back Pain?

Back pain is often caused by poor posture and inactivity. But in the event of severe pain which gets worse over several weeks, or if you are unwell with back pain, you should seek further professional medical guidance.

There are a numbers of factors which may affect your back:

Seating posture
Computer screen position
Chair height
Keyboard / mouse position
Desk equipment layout

Sitting incorrectly in front of a computer for hours on end is just asking for trouble, the body can only tolerate being in one position for only a short period of time before you feel the need to adjust.

In order to help you maintain a good posture we supply a number of workstation accessories designed to ensure a safe working environment. Correct posture when sitting at a desk can help prevent repetitive strain injury (RSI), which is a cause of back pain.

Sit up straight and make sure that your lower back is supported, we recommend:

And a range of products suited to help manage painful back conditions:

When you're sitting, your thighs should be at right-angles to your body or sloping slightly down.

If your chair is properly adjusted, your feet should be firmly on the floor, but if it's more comfortable, use a footrest. The basic rule is to plant your feet on the floor and support your back.