Professor Hiroshi Matsudaira, Associate Professor Takayuki Oka, and Takahiko Yoshimoto of the University of Tokyo Hospital 22nd Century Medical Center tell us that stubborn back pain, which is common among caregivers, is prolonged from mental and physical stress reactions and thinking that excessively protects back pain. A research group of the specially appointed research institute and others has found out.
With the cooperation of the Ishikawa Industrial Health Comprehensive Support Center, the survey sent anonymous questionnaires to 95 nursing care facilities in Ishikawa Prefecture, and analyzed the data of 1,704 caregivers who responded.
According to the report, when the answers were analyzed by a common statistical method in an epidemiological study called multivariate logistic regression analysis, dizziness and stiff shoulders were found in people who had severe back pain that interfered with their work for more than 3 months. There were many subjective complaints such as tired eyes, palpitations, gastrointestinal upset, loss of appetite, and sleep disorders, and it became clear that the thoughts and actions that excessively protect low back pain were strong.
The research group believes that mental and physical stress reactions and thinking that excessively protects back pain are risk factors for prolonging severe back pain.
Demand for caregivers is increasing with the progress of the aging society, but there are conspicuous cases of long-term leave due to severe back pain, which can be said to be an occupational disease.In addition, low back pain has become one of the factors that reduce labor productivity at long-term care sites, and it has emerged as an important issue that needs to be resolved immediately.
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare is calling for not only to reduce the excessive burden on the lower back during work as a measure against back pain at the nursing care site, but also to make gymnastics a habit, but the research group added the risk factors clarified in this survey. It is said that the implementation of measures against back pain will be more effective.
