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Washington: Unsatisfactory jobs may give a headache to many, but
a study says that they can also cause acute back pain.
Researchers at University of Western Australia have found
that workers who resign themselves to work in unsatisfactory
jobs are more likely to suffer from serious, persistent lower
back pain than others with a positive attitude.
In their study, they found that a third of people studied
with niggling non-specific back pain went on to develop daily
back pain that severely affected their career and social lives.
Although the workers required extended sick leave and went
to their doctors complaining of pain, only a few had suffered a
physical change such as a slipped disc. Anatomical tests showed
no reasons for their ongoing daily problems with pain, say the
researchers.
“Everybody has occasional lower back or neck pain but we are
concerned about people with continuous non-specific pain for
weeks at a time, which has significant socio-economic and
personal costs,” professor Markus Melloh, who led the team,
said.
The researchers found that patients who continued to show
“maladaptive cognitions” such as fear and helplessness about
their condition, movement avoidance and magnification of its
seriousness were likely to develop a persistent condition.
“Attitude in the workplace and positive thinking have a huge
impact on lower back pain. If an employee has the option to
participate in change in their workplace or have some say in
their job design, they can regain a positive attitude and the
condition may correct itself,” Melloh said. |
