Back Pain Clinical Summary

How the Program Works | Facts You Need to Know

How the Program Works

Clinicians from Matria’s Back Pain Management Program work with employees to develop customized care plans that help them comply with treatment plans and learn appropriate self-care techniques. We provide emotional support, educational materials and a back pain handbook that encourages a prevention program consisting of any or all of the following:

Acute Pain:

• Observation of proper lifting and postural activities to prevent further injuries
• Use of anti-inflammatory medications
• Application of ice and/or heat compresses
• Light activity to promote healing
• Limited short-term bed rest depending on the injury
• Stretching exercises
• Weight loss
• Smoking cessation

Chronic Pain:

Proper use of strengthening and stretching exercises, coping skills and referrals to appropriate traditional or alternative specialists may include:

• Back Pain Centers of Excellence
• Musculoskeletal physicians (physiatrists)
• Physical therapists
• Licensed musculoskeletal massage therapists
• Psychiatrists in cases involving depression
• Chiropractors
• Orthopaedic surgeons

Also available in the program is medication management to decrease the use of expensive nonhealing narcotics. In addition, patients are screened for depression. Depression is also screened for and if present, appropriate management planned and implemented.

Facts You Need to Know

Back pain affects up to 85 percent of the working population at least once in their life and is the leading cause of workplace disability and the cause of one-third of all lost work claims. It is ranked second only to headaches as the most frequent source of bodily pain, with the lower back being the most common area affected.

Research shows a link between back pain and frustration with working conditions. A study of hourly employees found that those at risk for low-back pain felt at least one of the following:

• Dissatisfaction with the workplace social environment
• A lack of autonomy over their work
• A lack of support by co-workers
• Overqualified for their present duties
• Overwhelmed with the physical demands of their job
• Performed physically exerting tasks, such as lifting heavy loads