Back pain from stress

Psychological reasons often play a role in back pain

05/13/2013

Back pain is one of the most common forms of sick leave in Germany. An incorrect posture in work or office life often plays an important role in their development. But even psychological stress and stress can cause back pain, the news agency reports „dpa“ citing Andreas Tautz of the German Society for Occupational Medicine and Environmental Medicine.

Also at the 53rd international annual conference of the German Society for Occupational Medicine and Environmental Medicine (DGAUM), the Austrian Society for Occupational Medicine (ÖGA) and the Swiss Society for Occupational Medicine (SGARM / SSMT) in Bregenz (Austria), the topic of back pain and their prevention play a special role. Elke Rogosky of the German Social Accident Insurance has pointed out in the abstract to her lecture at the congress that „more than two-thirds of all Germans at least once in their lives with back pain“ suffer and „the complaints not infrequently to longer lasting incapacity for work and to a premature exit from the working life“ to lead. She also called, in addition to lack of exercise and poor posture, stress as a possible trigger of back problems. „Often mental problems cause back problems“, confirmed Andreas Tautz of the German Society of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Medicine.

Mental stress as a cause of back pain
According to the experts, back pain is often the result of mental stress, with stress at work being of paramount importance. Quarrels with colleagues or bosses may have negative consequences, as can stress caused by excessive workload. „The emotional pressure causes many to physically tense and get back pain“, explained Andreas Tautz. According to the expert, therefore, the psychological factors should also be taken into account when making the diagnosis. Those affected would have to wonder how high the psychological pressure is on their work. If in doubt, the company doctor could help to identify existing overloads.

Movement for the prevention of back pain
Regardless of whether the back pain was triggered by mental stress, lack of exercise or poor posture at work, according to the experts, physical exercise is quite well suited for prevention. Even small, easy-to-implement measures can have a promising effect here. Andreas Tautz, for example, recommends getting up on the phone, getting a high desk in the office and using it „or position the printer as far away from the desk as possible.“ Even walks in the lunch break are helpful. The physical exercise not only does the body good, but also helps to reduce stress. With every step of the walk, the stress of the office is left a bit behind.

Which stress load leads to back pain?
Rolf Ellegast from the Institute for Occupational Safety of the German Social Accident Insurance also addresses the possible connections between mental factors and back pain in his presentation at the 53rd international DGAUM annual conference. The expert reports from a recent study on „Examination of the dose-effect relationship between intervertebral disc disorders in the lumbar spine (LWS) and work-related physical stress.“ As part of the study should also „thresholds“ be determined, from which specific physical stresses are considered to be relevant to the disease risk, so Ellegast. For the first time, it would be relatively objectively possible to determine from which psychological burden there is an increased risk of back pain. (Fp)