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The Most Dangerous Jobs: A Chiropractic Perspective

The Most Dangerous Jobs: A Chiropractic Perspective

It’s no secret that some jobs are just more physically demanding and more dangerous than others. Some of the most challenging ones are obvious—combat roles in the military, fire and rescue, heavy construction and deep sea fishing are just a few that come to mind. However, when it comes to non-fatal musculoskeletal injuries, the statistics tell a very different story about occupational health and safety and about who’s most likely to get hurt on the job.

Because chiropractic physicians are experts in treating conditions that involve the musculoskeletal and nervous systems (including many common workplace injuries), we have a unique perspective on why they happen, how they can  be prevented and the best ways to treat them.

Musculoskeletal Disorders by the Numbers

Let’s start with a long-term trend that’s good news for the nation’s workers but that doesn’t get much media attention. The number of reportable occupational injuries and illnesses has declined steadily across the past decade from 50 cases per 1,000 full-time workers in 2003 to 33 cases in 2013. So progress is clearly being made, even if it doesn’t grab the headlines.

That said, musculoskeletal injuries continue to be among the most common on-the-job injuries, and they can require significant recuperation time. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) says that musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) “are injuries or illnesses affecting the connective tissues of the body such as muscles, nerves, tendons, joints, cartilage, or spinal disks.”

A very high percentage—about one-third—of 2013 workplace injury and illness cases that required days off from work involved the musculoskeletal system.  Plus, workers who sustained musculoskeletal injuries required more time to recover before returning to work—a median of 11 days to recuperate compared with 8 days for all types of workplace injury and illness cases. In 2011:

  • The back was the primary site of MSD injuries in 42% of all cases across all occupations, requiring a median time off of 7 days to recuperate.
  • Although it accounts for only 13% of all MSDs, the shoulder was the area with the most severe injuries, requiring a median of 21 days off of work to recuperate.
  • Injuries and illnesses due to repetitive motion involving “micro-tasks” (such as typing) accounted for only 3% of all occupational injury and illness cases. However, those workers with this kind of injury required nearly 3 times as many days away from work to recover as those with all other types of injuries and illnesses—a median of 23 days.

 

As we mentioned earlier, though, MSDs are not distributed evenly across all industries and occupations.

  • In 2013, the highest MSD incident rates were found in transportation and warehousing (80.3 cases per 10,000 full-time workers), healthcare and social assistance (50.2 cases per 10,000 full-time workers), arts, entertainment and recreation (46.5 cases per 10,000 full-time workers) and construction (41.9 cases per 10,000 full-time workers).
  • In 2011, six occupations accounted for 26% of all MSD cases: nursing assistants, laborers, janitors and cleaners, heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, registered nurses and stock clerks.
  • In 2011, those with the greatest number of median days spent off from work in order to recuperate from an MSD were heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers (21 days).

So it’s clear from the numbers that the dangerous jobs featured on reality TV shows (think about Deadliest Catch and Ice Road Truckers) aren’t necessarily the ones that result in the most MSD-related visits to the chiropractor or general practitioner.

The Role of Chiropractic Care in Prevention and Treatment

Over the past several years, companies of all sizes have become increasingly interested in occupational health and wellness programs. Chiropractic physicians have a special interest in working with employees and business managers alike to help prevent job-related injuries and to encourage a healthy, productive work environment. If you’d like to learn more, we encourage you to call or visit our office today.

Chiropractic care can be one of the most effective ways to treat musculoskeletal pain and accelerate recovery.  Dr. Oblander has the training and experience necessary to successfully diagnose and treat a wide range of workplace injuries, and he’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have! So if you or someone you care about has recently been hurt on the job, please give us a call at 406-652-3553 or stop by either of our Billings chiropractic offices. We have an office located at 3307 Grand Avenue and an office at 410 Wicks Lane in the Heights  and we’re here to help!

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The Latest on Motorcycle Safety Gear

The Latest on Motorcycle Safety Gear

motorcycle-safety-gear-200-300There are few more iconic images than that of the motorcyclist. Whether it’s zipping through traffic when cars are at a standstill or exploring long, winding country highways, motorcycling is many people’s idea of bliss. In order to keep enjoying that bliss, however, it’s necessary to add a dash of caution and common sense. According to statistics from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motorcyclists are 35 times more likely to experience a deadly road accident than those traveling in passenger vehicles. Even the most skilled motorcyclists need motorcycle safety gear to protect themselves against injury.  Remember-more often than not, motorcycle accidents are the fault of people driving other (larger) types of vehicles…

The head, arms and legs are the areas of the body most likely to sustain injury in a motorcycle accident, so protect these first and foremost. The basics of protective clothing include jackets and pants (or a suit), gloves, boots, and of course a helmet. Jackets, pants and gloves can be constructed from leather, nylon or Kevlar. The best quality leather is made from cowhide, as it is the most durable. You can also find pigskin leather that may look nice and be less expensive, but it is far more easily damaged. Be sure the leather is a minimum of one millimeter in thickness for optimal protection. Buffalo hide is another good choice if you can find it.

Many people prefer synthetic materials, due to what some feel is greater comfort and improved weather protection. Whether you choose nylon or Kevlar, test the material to see if it can stretch and breathe. This is important when biking on a hot day. It should also be strong and durable enough to be able to maintain its integrity in the event of an accident.

When choosing a motorcycle jacket, ensure that the stitching at your joints (elbows and shoulders) is strong and preferably reinforced. A well-made jacket will have extra padding in the area of the spine, elbows and shoulders. A jacket of man-made materials should have reflective stripes. Your jacket should fit snugly without being too tight. It should allow for extra layers underneath if you are a cool-weather biker. When trying it on, be sure to also sit in it in riding position to ensure that your back and wrists remain covered while in that position.

Although jeans may be more comfortable, leather pants or chaps are always recommended. In addition to providing greater protection, chaps or insulated pants may be specially coated for water resistance, which is an added bonus in bad weather that jeans just can’t match.

The best gloves (which should be worn at all times, no matter what the weather) will have knuckle protection made from carbon fiber. Cold weather gloves are essentially the same, but with insulation – and often waterproofing – included.
Boots should be at least 6 inches in height to offer ankle protection, and sport a slip-resistant sole. Thicker soles are better at absorbing bike vibrations. Leather boots are always preferable to nylon running shoes, which offer no protection to your feet and ankles in case of an accident.

The use of brightly colored, reflective clothing has been shown to reduce the risk of road accidents by 37%. If your clothing does not have reflectivity built-in, you can add it with the addition of reflective tape kits. Anything that makes you more visible to other drivers can dramatically decrease your risk of an injury.

Although nobody enjoys wearing a motorcycle helmet, it may make the difference between life and death (or between life and living in a vegetative state). A good helmet will have a Department of Transportation (DOT) certification sticker on the back. This ensures that the helmet meets stringent safety requirements. You will get the most protection from a full coverage helmet that covers the entire head and face, with a clear acrylic visor for added protection against insects and various light road debris. Many helmets also feature vents to help keep your head cool.

A well-equipped biker is a happy, healthy one, so buy some quality gear and get out there to enjoy the open road!