Tips to Avoid Office Back Pain and Workplace Injuries

Back pain doesn't discriminate. For office workers, old and young people and those who exercise and those who don't -- back pain is an equal opportunity ailment.

Eighty percent of Americans experience back pain in their lifetime and this ailment can have serious implications for job security by negatively affecting even the most dedicated employee's ability to go to work.

And it doesn't help that daily activities in the workplace such as lifting heavy items, sitting in front of a computer, standing in one position for a prolonged period of time or repetitive motion and strain injuries are the main causes of back pain. Employees cannot afford to risk losing their jobs while being stuck home recuperating or go to work while taking oral pain medication which can have side effects and can impact an employee's focus or job performance.

Here are some simple and effective tips that can help reduce the risk of injury in the workplace:

- Think ergonomically. Use wrist rests, a more ergonomic keyboard, adjustable chair and a track ball instead of a mouse.

- Be sure your computer monitor sits at eye level and follow the "90-90" rule by positioning your elbows, hips, knees and ankles in a 90-degree position for healthiest alignment.

- Use a document holder to elevate materials to eye level, rather than bending your neck down toward the desk.

- Take regular breaks and vary the pace of work. Change positions frequently and take a short break to stretch or walk around.

- Make it a habit to perform back, shoulder, wrist stretches and shoulder shrugs several times a day to prevent body strain and stress.

- Adjust your chair to sit with your feet flat on the floor.

- If you have a chair without lumbar support, replace it or use a small pillow or tightly rolled towel to relieve pressure on the lower back. Be sure the towel isn't too thick that it forces you to lean forward, which creates more strain.

- Do not multitask by cradling your telephone receiver between your neck and shoulder as this unnatural position puts a great deal of strain on your neck muscles. If you need to have your hands free, try using a headset or put the caller on speakerphone.

- Apply Topricin to areas that are prone to pain or injury before as well as during and after to keep pain and injury at bay.

What options do employees have to combat back pain?

Hot, greasy topical creams are commercially available and are used to provide temporary relief of pain symptoms by masking pain with chemicals or irritants such as menthol, camphor and capsaicin. These products often have a strong medicinal smell that is unwelcome in the workplace and people stop using them.

But there is an alternative. Topricin Pain Relief and Healing Cream provides the relief employees seek without interfering with their focus and productivity in the workplace.

Topricin is an odorless, non-greasy blend of eleven natural ingredients that assist the body to reduce inflammation, detoxify and stimulate blood flow to heal the damage that is causing pain. The product is specially formulated to relieve symptoms of pain associated with lower back and shoulder pain, repetitive motion injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome and compression neuropathies and arthritis and other joint pain.

Topricin doesn't use any volatile oils, petroleum or lanolin, fragrances or irritating chemicals and has no parabens, making it a safe, discreet, and effective pain relief option.

Most important, Topricin is formulated for maximum absorption can be applied many times a day as needed with no fear of overuse or interference with other medications and is safe for pregnant and nursing women and diabetics.

Lou Paradise, president of Topical BioMedics and product formulator of Topricin, says in today's job market employees cannot afford to be out of work and stuck in bed with an ailment that could have been prevented.

"It's important to prevent and not just treat work-related injuries and pain issues. Work-related injuries, pain and disabilities are preventable with ergonomic education, exercise, and work hardening programs which teach people how to perform their jobs in ways that are better for their bodies and reduce risk of injury," says Paradise.

Paradise notes that sound, sensible educational forums go a long way to prevent life-changing disabilities on every level. "Topricin can be a vital part of any businesses' ergonomic work-related injury treatment and pain prevention program."

Topricin is available in pharmacies, natural food stores, and other fine retailers nationwide, including Whole Foods, Vitamin Shoppe, Vitamin World, Fred Meyer, Wegmans, and other retail stores throughout the U.S., as well as direct from the Topical BioMedics' online store. To learn more about Topricin, go to http://www/topricin.com