As a crewmember in an air ambulance, you may face several health issues due to stress or physical strain. Among these issues, back pain is easily one of the most common problem medical flight crewmembers experience. You have to operate in a cramped space for long periods of time with no room or option for proper movement. But the good news is that there are a few ways you can tackle this problem.
Preventing and Reducing Back Pain for Medical Flight Crews
Oftentimes, people in your profession will experience back pain even without any physical injury. But with timely measures, you can reduce the pain and even prevent further issues from occurring. Here are a few tips to help you out:
- Apply ice – It’s common knowledge that ice can help relieve certain types of pain. Ice has no side effects and relieves inflammation at the same time. And you might instinctively use it when you come across patients with those issues. But it’s quite common to forget that this treatment can apply to you as well.
When you experience back pain, try applying ice for somewhere around 10-15 minutes on the area that’s affected. You can also combine this treatment with an over-the-counter pain relief medicine. If the pain doesn’t go away, try reapplying more ice every couple of hours until you feel better.
- Strengthen your muscles – The first tip talks about pain relief. But since you’re in the medical flight industry, you should also prepare yourself for future issues as well. Make an effort to prevent more back pain by strengthening your lower back muscles. Try practicing strength and stability exercises two days a week. Deadlifts and glute bridges are some of the exercises you can try.
