Did you know that back pain is the largest single reported cause of absence from work? Because of this, several studies are conducted to determine how and why people experience back pain, and whether or not their respective jobs are the cause of the back ache.

Obviously, jobs that rely on physical strength and manual labor would define back pain as an occupational health hazard. Most of these “blue collar” workers are at risk of suffering from back ache, and frequently, these are the more serious cases.

Weight-lifters, stuntmen, drag racers and construction workers are some examples of those people who may suffer severe back and spine injury because of their jobs. Since these people regularly use their muscles, back pain caused by muscle spasms is an unlikely reason. Usually, when these people complain about back pain, a dislocated or a fractured spine is present. These people should immediately contact a physician to avoid serious medical complications.

Back ache as an occupational health hazard in offices, however, is a different issue. Employers are quite concerned with the probable causes of increasing back pain complaints from their employees. Recent studies show that almost 40% of office workers are affected by back pain. Imagine the number of working days lost due to this medical problem.

To solve this problem, several companies improve their occupational health and safety precautions to minimize the number of their workers suffering from back ache.

Since back pain complaints of most office workers are due to the fact that they have minimal movement in combination with their improper sitting position, most of the companies provide comfortable working areas for their employees. Companies also provide lectures on ergonomics, as well as give ample time for their employees to ’stretch out’ during their working hours.

But do you really have to miss your work when you are experiencing back aches?

In a leaflet published by the British Occupational Health Research Foundation, they said that these absences are usually not necessary. The said leaflet also cited that lying in bed is not the cure for back ache experienced by office workers.

Lying, like sitting in front of computers, still limits the movement of muscles. Research shows that muscle spasms do not heal faster when it’s inactive; in fact, it may even cause serious disability. If you’re definitely sure that your back ache is just caused by your muscles, don’t stop using you’re back. If you’re desperate to miss your work that day because of your back pain, do not just lie on your bed all throughout the day. Why not try doing some chores?

Sometimes, workers tend to complain of intolerable pain even if the physician already confirmed a minor muscle spasm. To alleviate the pain, you may want to try a dose of acetaminophen, ibuprofen or another pain reliever. Creams, lotions and swabs are also effective in relieving the pain.

Occupational health remains one of the most important factors of every company. If you think that your job is the primary cause of your back ache, maybe you can agree to some arrangement with your employer. A lot of people however, in fear of losing their jobs, tend to endure their suffering. But we must always bear in mind the probable consequences that we will face in the long run if we do develop a more serious problem caused by neglected back pain.