Back Friendly Work

Creating a Back-friendly Work Environment 

(PLANO, TX, March 22, 2011) – You don’t have to see the statistics to know back pain is common. In fact, says Stacye Mayo, occupational therapist and manager of the Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano physical medicine and rehabilitation department, “When you look at the U.S. population, back pain, especially as we get older, is fairly common.” 

Rates of back pain tend to be higher in industrialized countries, she explains, because of our sedentary lifestyles and tendency to sit at desks all day. To help lower your risk, Stacye offers these tips for maximizing comfort in your work area. 

1. Get lined up. When sitting at your desk make sure your head is aligned with your shoulders and that your lower back is supported. You can put a small pillow behind your back or purchase a back support for your chair if your chair isn’t providing adequate back support. Adjust the height of your chair so that your knees are even with your hips or slightly lower than your hips.   

2. Straighten your wrists. To help avoid injuries to your wrists like carpal tunnel syndrome, try to keep your wrists straight and your hands open and relaxed when using a mouse. Refrain from resting your wrist on the edge of your desk and only use a wrist rest when you’re taking a break from typing.  

3. Relax. Maintain a 90 degree angle or less with your elbows and try to keep them close to your body.  

4. Don’t Strain. Avoid straining your eyes by placing the top of your computer screen at or somewhat below eye level and about arms length away from you.  

5. Lift properly. If you have to lift a heavy object, first establish stable footing. Then bend at your knees rather than your waist to help prevent back injuries. Help support your spine by tightening your abdominal muscles. Always lift with your legs rather than your back.  

If you’re experiencing back pain, call 1.800.4BAYLOR or visit www.BaylorHealth.com/Plano for a referral to an orthopaedist or neurosurgeon on the Baylor Plano medical staff.  

Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano is a 112-bed acute care hospital committed to serving North Texas residents with personalized care and advanced technology on a beautiful campus with hotel-like amenities and all private rooms. Services at the not-for-profit, fully-accredited facility include treatment for advanced spine deformities at the Baylor Scoliosis Center, neurosciences, orthopaedics, medical and radiation oncology, surgical weight loss, women’s services, gynecology, urology, gastroenterology, pulmonary medicine, sleep disorders, pain management, diabetes management and more. Patients have access to digital imaging onsite at Baylor Plano and at the Baylor Diagnostic Imaging Center at Craig Ranch, an outpatient department of Baylor Plano. The hospital is the first in North Dallas and Collin County to offer minimally invasive robotic surgery for procedures through the FDA-approved da Vinci® S Surgical System.  Baylor Plano is a 2010 recipient of the Texas Award for Performance Excellence and houses an Accredited Community Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Program by the American College of Surgeons Commissions on Cancer. Baylor Plano is the only hospital in Collin County and one of six in Texas to be accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers. Jerri Garison is president of Baylor Plano. For more information, or a physician referral, call toll free 1-800-4-BAYLOR or log onto www.BaylorHealth.com/Plano. 

About Baylor Health Care System

Baylor Health Care System is a faith-based supporting organization providing services to a network of acute care hospitals and related health care entities that provide patient care, medical education, research and community service. Baylor recorded more than 2.6 million patient encounters, $3.8 billion in total operating revenue, $4.4 billion in total assets and $513.5 million in community benefit in fiscal year 2010.  Baylor’s network of more than 260 access points includes 26 owned/operated/ ventured/affiliated hospitals, 23 joint ventured ambulatory surgical centers, 50 satellite outpatient locations, four senior centers and 156 HealthTexas physician clinics.  

Physicians are members of the medical staff at one of Baylor Health Care System¹s subsidiary, community or affiliated medical centers and are neither employees nor agents of those medical centers, Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano or Baylor Health Care System.