By Dr.
Jon Thomas, DC, PSc.D, Board Certified Chiropractic Physician.
What is Labor Day All about?
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| Courtesy of Wikipedia |
Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the
labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of
American workers. It is an annual national tribute to the contributions workers
have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.
According to the U.S.
Department of Labor, the first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on
Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City. In 1884, Labor Day was celebrated
in New York on the first Monday in September. The idea of a holiday for workers
spread rapidly to other cities and states. Labor organizations played a big
part in that.
By 1885, Labor Day was celebrated in many industrial centers
throughout the United States. On June 28, 1894, Congress passed an act making
Labor Day a legal holiday.
Common Workplace Injuries
Work gives people a sense of purpose and fulfillment. For most
people, work is a major part of life. Unfortunately, work can sometimes lead to
injuries. Here are some of the most common causes of workplace injuries:
Overexertion: Lifting, pulling, pushing, reaching, holding, and carrying, can all
cause serious injuries, especially when a person is attempting to work with
something that’s simply too heavy to easily lift. Overexertion is the number
one cause of workplace injuries. If an object is too heavy or awkward, or the
person lifts with the back as opposed to the legs, injury can result.
Slips and
falls: Although slip and falls can frequently be
avoided, slips and trips they are the number two cause of workplace injuries.
Falls on wet and slippery floors or tripping over an object causes many serious
injuries every day. One of the best ways to avoid slips and falls is to simply
pay attention to the potential hazards in the workplace. (This is hard to do if
your nose is constantly buried in your smartphone)
_(Art._IWM_LD_2850).jpg) |
| Courtesy of Wikipedia |
Repetitive
Motion: Repetitive motions such as typing and using a
computer for most of the day can strain muscles and tendons. This can lead to back
pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, and carpal tunnel syndrome. Setting up a
workspace that’s ergonomically correct can reduce the incidence of this type of
injury. Getting up from the chair and stretching for a few minutes each hour
can also help. Raising a computer monitor to a higher position can also
help.
Vehicle
Accidents: When car accidents happen, people usually get
hurt. Workers who drive as part of their jobs are on the road more than others
so they are statistically more likely to be involved in car accidents.
Distracted driving due to texting and other activities cause many car
accidents. When driving, it’s very important to focus completely on driving.
Falling
Objects: Head and neck injuries are a common result
of falling objects in the workplace. That’s why hard hats are required at
construction sites. It’s important to be aware of areas where things may be
prone to falling. As much as possible, it’s a good idea to avoid standing in
spots where things might fall.
Falling
from High Places: Falling from a roof, a ladder, or down a
stairway can cause serious injuries. Even a fall from a chair that someone
stands on to change a light bulb can cause a serious injury. Paying attention
and being careful are the keys to avoiding these injuries.
Walking
Into Things: People walk into walls, doors, cabinets, glass,
windows, tables, chairs, and other solid objects all the time. Some suffer from
knee, neck, and foot injuries. Like other types of injuries, most of these can
be avoided simply by paying attention.
How Chiropractic can help after a workplace injury?
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| Courtesy of Vibrant Life Health Center |
When you are injured on the job, you want to get back to normal
as soon as possible. Chiropractic care is the best treatment option for many
common workplace injuries, including back injuries, neck injuries, bursitis,
tendinitis, and rotator cuff tears.
Seeing a chiropractor as soon as possible after a work-related
injury can dramatically improve your chances for a speedy recovery. People
sometimes think that the body will heal itself over time. Occasionally, that’s
true. However, some injuries don’t get better. Some injuries get worse.
An experienced Chiropractor can put patients on the road to
recovery from an injury. After a careful and thorough evaluation, a
Chiropractor will develop a treatment plan that will address the specific
nature of the patient’s injury.
At Vibrant Life Health Center, I’ve helped many patients get
back to work and back to their lives as quickly and as safely as possible. My
goal is to help you to reestablish a normal and healthy life. If you're looking
for effective relief after a work injury, call our office today to set up a
consultation.
Life in Balance Tip of the Week: Chiropractic works!
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| Courtesy of Vibrant Life |
A growing body of research shows that the services provided by
chiropractic physicians are effective, safe, and cost-effective for many
conditions. The following are excerpts from some of the recent research.
“Acute and chronic chiropractic patients experienced better
outcomes in pain, functional disability, and patient satisfaction; clinically
important differences in pain and disability improvement were found for chronic
patients.”
Haas et al (2005), Journal of Manipulative and
Physiological Therapeutics
“In our randomized, controlled trial, we compared the
effectiveness of manual therapy, physical therapy, and continued care by a
general practitioner in patients with nonspecific neck pain. The success rate
at seven weeks was twice as high for the manual therapy group (68.3 percent) as
for the continued care group (general practitioner). Manual therapy scored
better than physical therapy on all outcome measures. Patients receiving manual
therapy had fewer absences from work than patients receiving physical therapy
or continued care, and manual therapy and physical therapy each resulted in
statistically significant less analgesic use than continued care.” Hoving et
al (2002), Annals of Internal Medicine
“Chiropractic patients were found to be more satisfied with
their back care providers after four weeks of treatment than were medical
patients. Results from observational studies suggested that back pain patients
are more satisfied with chiropractic care than with medical care. Additionally,
studies conclude that patients are more satisfied with chiropractic care than
they were with physical therapy after six weeks.”
Hertzman-Miller et al (2002), American Journal of Public
Health
“Many treatments are available for low back pain. Often
exercises and physical therapy can help. Some people benefit from chiropractic
therapy or acupuncture.”
Goodman et al. (2013), Journal of the American Medical
Association
For more interesting research excerpts, go to the ACA Today website.
To find more research about chiropractic services, visit the
World Federation of Chiropractic's Reading List.
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This article provides a brief history of Labor Day and a list of
common workplace injuries. I’ve also discussed how chiropractic can help when a
person has a workplace injury.
If you have a comment about this article, please leave it in the
comments section below. If you know of someone who might benefit from the
information in this blog, please share it with your friends and colleagues, and
also on social media.
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are below.
At Vibrant Life, we address all of the key elements to add
vibrance and vitality to your life. This includes nutrition, chiropractic care,
and fitness. If you need to consult with a chiropractor about your neck, back,
or any other health concern, please contact our office to set up an
appointment.
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| Courtesy of Vibrant Life |
Dr. Jon Thomas is a Board Certified Chiropractic
Physician. His practice, The Vibrant Life Health Center, is located in the
Mandarin section of Jacksonville. His interest in health and fitness started
early, and his athletic pursuits have included BMX racing, Professional Snow
Skiing, Water Skiing, Baseball, Weightlifting, and Martial Arts. After studying
and learning from some of the top health experts throughout the world, Dr.
Thomas dedicated his life to helping people of all ages to transform their
lives. The objective for each patient is to initiate the body’s healing and to
work progressively toward a body that functions optimally. Dr. Thomas is seen
regularly on TV on First Coast Living, where he discusses the transformations
of his patients. He also speaks at events throughout the community and writes
informative articles to improve the health of residents throughout
Jacksonville.
