Back to basics: Advice on back care from the General Chiropractic Council

Suffering from work related aches and pains? You're not alone Work related musculoskeletal symptoms are the largest category of self reported ill-health in the UK Here we'll explore what can lead to back problems and what can you do if you're already suffering. Already got a bad back?

In most cases of back pain it's essential to keep as active as possible – try sticking to your daily routines. And, the sooner your aches and pains are seen to, the more likely a successful outcome will be achieved quickly. 

Chiropractors can help you. They are trained to diagnose and treat musculoskeletal disorders and can provide a package of care that is evidence-based and widely recommended (see www.backpaineurope.org).

As well as physical manipulation, the full evidence-based ‘package' of care includes advice about exercise, lifestyle, and activity. Chiropractors will aim to:

• reassure you
• alleviate your distress by controlling your pain
• restore you to normal activity
• help you to prevent it happening so often.

Chiropractors take a holistic approach to your health and well-being: this means that they consider your symptoms in the context of your full medical history, your lifestyle and your personal circumstances.

Be aware

It can be difficult to avoid some of the causes of back pain, especially everyday wear and tear! Courtesy of the Health and Safety Executive's web-site www.hse.gov.uk , here are some examples of the most common tasks that can lead to back pain - they won't come as a surprise:

• heavy manual labour
• repetitive tasks
• sitting at a workstation for a long period of time if the workstation is not correctly arranged or adjusted to fit the person
• driving long distances or driving over rough ground 

Keep active

Whatever you do, don't take to your bed and wait for the pain to go away. If possible, rather than stay at home, speak to your employers and the occupational health department to explore the possibility of modifying your duties for a while. But the sooner you get back to normal activity the better. Statisics show that people who are off work for six months have about a 50 per cent chance of returning to full time work.

So, the watchwords are “active rehabilitation.” Don't avoid activity simply as a way of avoiding the pain - hurt does not always mean harm. And please do consult a chiropractor as soon as possible, they really can help you through it with appropriate treatment.

To find a local chiropractor, or for more information about what you can expect when you see a chiropractor, you can contact the General Chiropractic Council. We keep the statutory register of all UK chiropractors. A list of chiropractors, and all our publications, can also be found on our website www.gcc-uk.org . If you prefer, you can phone them on 0845 601 1796 during office hours.