Proper Posture and Body Mechanics

Research has shown that 80% of adults will experience lower back pain at some point in their lives, and that 90% of the time this back pain will be recurrent. Based upon this knowledge, as OT practitioners it is extremely important to educate our clients on the importance of proper posture and body mechanics. 

Based upon experience, I know how hindering lower back pain can be when participating in daily activities. I have played soccer throughout most of my life and started to experience lower back pain when I was in my Junior year of highschool. I did not know how much my back was involved in even the smallest of tasks, such as reaching down to grab my backpack, until I started experiencing lower back pain. After numerous doctors visits, I was told that I was experiencing Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction and was then referred to physical therapy. Throughout therapy I was educated on the importance of proper body mechanics and posture, along with the importance of maintaining a strong core and building strength and flexibility in my glutes and hamstrings. While I still experience lower back pain from time to time, I now know how to find the root cause of the issue and I can then begin the process of healing and correcting the source of my pain. 

Just as my physical therapists helped me, as a future OT I believe that I can play an important role in helping to prevent lower back injuries with my clients. When educating my clients on the importance of proper body mechanics and posture, I would make sure to tell them the statistics that I mentioned before. I would then instruct them by using proper demonstration, including proper lifting techniques such as keeping a widened stance, bending at the knees, keeping the object as close to the body as possible, and lifting from the hips and knees. NOT THE BACK. I would use each clients' own desired occupations to practice these lifting techniques, such as bending down to pick up a laundry basket. I would also stress the importance of maintaining proper posture when sitting, further demonstrating the overcorrecting technique that can be used while sitting. 

I believe that with proper education, demonstration, and practice, OTs can play a huge role in preventing back injuries and helping people continue to participate in their purposeful activities.