October 2020
This week marks Back Care Awareness Week and we wanted to use the opportunity to highlight the need for all of us to take good care of our backs.
This is just as important whether you work operationally or are desk-based.
We know that musculoskeletal (MSK) problems such as back and shoulder pain are the leading cause of working days lost in the UK – it is estimated that 31 million days a year are lost due to these problems.
Employees with MSK problems are also at higher risk of stress, anxiety and depression. With 33.9% of older adults (over 50) with MSK pain also suffering with persistent anxiety issues and 22% having a persistent depression problem*. So even more reason to look after ourselves.
In the last 12 months at SYFR we’ve had over 30 referrals to physio for back-related problems – where possible, our aim is to reduce the number sustaining injury or exacerbating existing back-related complaints.
To maintain good back health why not speak with our very own Fitness Advisor, Sam Bottomley about exercise routines and tips – these are relevant to all staff whatever your role.
For some other tips and guidance on looking after yourself whilst working at home and also more general desk-based good practice then check out ‘Homeworking – workstation and posture (available on the SYFR intranet health and wellbeing pages – Covid-19 tab). There’s also lots of useful information made available by the NHS.
*: Source – PHE
Our fitness advisor, Sam Bottomley, has put together some great exercises you can do at home or in a gym setting to help strengthen, improve and take care of your lower back.
As always, if you want any further information you can contact Sam directly [email protected] or health and wellbeing manager Phil Hargreaves [email protected]
– Phil Hargreaves, Health & Wellbeing Manager
– Sam Bottomley & Dan Jones, Occupational Health
