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Back Pain - Causes of Back Pain

Back pain is common. Nearly everyone is affected by it at some time. For most pepople affected by back pain episodes are nearly always short-lived.

The exact cause of back pain is often unclear, but back pain is more common in work roles that involve:

  • Repetitive tasks: such as manual packing of goods;
  • Force: heavy manual labour, handling tasks, pushing, pulling or dragging heavy loads;
  • Posture: Poor/ awkward postures such as stooping, bending over, crouching, stretching, twisting and reaching;
  • Duration: prolonged periods in one position. e.g. working with computers or driving long distances. Also working when physically overtired;
  • Vibration: operating vibration tools;
  • Cold temperature: working in low temperature environments e.g. outdoor working in winter.


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