Travel physical therapists are tasked with treating their patients’ pains and other physical ailments, but sometimes it is the helpers themselves who need the most help. This isn’t too surprising, as physical therapy can be a demanding job that requires a wide range of motions and exertion. Because of this, therapists often work diligently to avoid the twists and tweaks that can lead to more serious complications down the road.
Here are a few tips to help physical therapists stay in top form and stave off back pain.
Learn the causes
Back pain has many precipitating sources, so it is important for travel physical therapists to understand the most common causes if they want to avoid it in the future. According to NurseTogether, heavy lifting, poor posture, repetition and stress are the most common causes of back pain. By learning about these issues and finding ways to avoid them, you will give yourself a much better chance of avoiding back issues.
Build up your back
If you are not content to simply avoid or correct the common source of back pain, you may want to be more proactive and develop a workout routine designed to strengthen your back. Doing so can help you control back pain by building up the core muscle groups – such as you rhomboids and latissimus dorsi, among others – that can help keep back issues at bay.
Accept your vulnerabilities
Because they are held up as paragons of health and fitness, many travel physical therapists and other health professionals have difficulty admitting that they too may need care. Doctors, therapists and nurses often feel like they must de-prioritize their own problems in the face of their patients’, but doing so can ultimately do more harm than good.
“Nothing is supposed to stop a nurse,” Susan Letvak, the author of a study about health issues among medical professionals, told The New York Times. “We are supposed to care for everyone else and soldier on.”
Manage stress
Physical problems aren’t the only sources of back pain, however. Studies show that stressed medical professionals are at an increased risk for developing back pain, so make an effort to get your mental health in shape too. If you feel anxious while on the job, practice deep breathing and positive visualization or simply take a walk to blow off a little steam.