Relieving lower back pain for teachers
by Vernon Foster
Many teachers find that by the end of a day teaching they can have a sore lower back. Here are some tips to help you manage lower back pain.
Stretch in between classes
As your children move in and out of the classroom to switch classes for the day, it's a great time to do some lower back stretches. Try a spinal twist where you plant your feet hip distance about and gently rotate your torso backwards first in an anti-clockwise then clockwise direction. This is a great way to relieve tension in between teaching sessions. If you teach younger kids who stay in the class, you can also encourage them to get up and have a stretch with you at the end of each activity. Many teachers find some physical activity such as a stretch can actually help the kids to concentrate more on their next activity.
Ask for help with lifting heavy objects
Teachers often need to manoeuvre heavy pieces of equipment such as whiteboards and audiovisual equipment in and out of classrooms. If you find that your back does not allow you to lift these by yourself with ease, it's a good idea to ask for help from administrations staff or even the students to ensure that you don't do yourself an injury.
Wear comfortable shoes
While teachers need to maintain a professional appearance, often staying in high heeled shoes all day can exacerbate back pain. Instead, opt for a comfortable lower-heeled shoe, and inserts if needed, in order to make sure your back can comfortably deal with a day of standing and teaching. You can save the impressive high heeled shoes for formal presentations and assemblies.
Get medical support
If you find that you have recurrent back pain issues it's a good idea to see a physiotherapist or chiropractor. They can examine your spine and soft tissues to make sure that there is no underlying injury and if needed mobilise the back to help relieve any tension and soreness. They can also help to give you some specific exercises and stretches to help increase your back flexibility and strength so that you have more comfort going forward.
If you find that you regularly have back pain, it's a good idea to integrate some small lifestyle changes into your work day. Getting advice from a physiotherapist or chiropractor can be a good idea to get exercises and treatment for your specific issues.
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About Me
Hello, my name is Peter and I live in Western Australia with my wife on our pet dogs. This is my blog which details how to deal with various medical emergencies and other conditions. Last year, several friends and members of my family suffered from various different kinds of medical problems. Some of them, such as my uncle had to be rushed to the hospital for immediate treatment that saved his life. Lots of my friends had minor problems which had a big impact on the quality of their lives. I take an active interest in first-aid and other medical matters so I decided to start this blog.