The demands of standing on-the-job.

Lower back pain is the biggest health problem for employees who stand-up all day. Here's how Myovolt has been helping out at the sharp end.

Over at Fox Hair, there’s a new way of tackling lower back pain.

Hairdressing may not come to mind when you think of physically strenuous occupations. But the stress and strain of being on your feet for ten hours a day, five days a week can have a long-term impact on the body, particularly for the lower back.

In many retail occupations, including hairdressing, where people spend large amounts of their day standing up, this is a problem. Whether it’s leaning over hairdos, bending down to pick something up or the constant strain of standing in fixed postures leads to instabilities and weaknesses that increase the chance of injuries developing. Much like what happened to Jun Hashimoto.

Jun is a barber at Fox Hair. He puts in long hours, cutting and styling, it’s physically demanding work most days.

“I work from nine o’clock in the morning till about eight at night. It’s tough. Ten-hour days, constantly standing. No lunch breaks, just getting water and a bite to eat when I can.”

Jun suffered a back injury two years ago. Since then it's developed into a long term chronic condition that he has struggled to manage on a daily basis.

“It was Christmas time, we were extremely busy at work and I had an accident. I went to unload the dishwasher and bent over at a funny angle. I just felt my back go.

“Straight away I had this terrible lower back pain. I couldn’t stand up for two days. It was very bad. I felt like an old man.”

Jun sought help from an orthopaedic specialist and visited masseuses. He even bought an acupuncture mat to try to manage the day-to-day strain.

“I got a mat, had massages, went to a doctor. And although they did help, my back would still get tired easily. It felt weird at certain angles. I’d have to stretch it out constantly, and lie on the mat three times a day.”

Jun is a family man as well. He’s responsible not only for his business, but also for two small children. To be bedridden and immobile with back injuries isn’t conducive to home life or productivity at work. But he resigned himself to the new reality of life with a bad back.

But recently, through a conversation in the salon with a customer, an opportunity arose to try a new approach. Jun was selected to take part in an occupational health trial being run by Myovolt for people with lower back pain in the workplace.  

He was given a Myovolt Back device to use as part of a daily treatment programme over several weeks to manage muscular pain and stiffness.

He was impressed by the effectiveness of the vibration treatment and the convenience of using the device. Focal Vibration Therapy delivered by the Myovolt device helps to relax muscles, increase blood flow, stimulate nerves and improve mobility. The 10 minute treatment helps to activate the lower back area in a similar way to dynamic movement.

“When I wake up in the morning, I put it on. I always keep it right beside my bed. It keeps my back warm and healthy. I use it every morning. When I’m back home after work, I have a shower, then I use it for another session.”

For Jun, the ease of use and convenience of the treatment means that Myovolt aligns with his daily routine rather than disrupting it. Physical therapy or massage treatments that require you to take time out of your day to visit the clinic are not a practical daily solution for most. Myovolt is an immediate way to relieve soreness and stiffness, at home, at work or while travelling between the two. The hands-free, wearable design does not restrict movement so you can stay on the job and get on with your day.

Myovolt is a treatment that fits around you.

“It’s become a part of my life. I don’t need any other product now.” No more time is lost. I can cook, clean, use it whenever I want. My body is always ready to go now.

At Myovolt we have been working with both large employers and small businesses to validate the impact of our products in managing common musculoskeletal conditions found in the workplace. Of these conditions, lower back injury is the largest problem with industry sectors at highest risk being; construction, manufacturing, nursing, retail, security and logistics.

Employees in many of these occupations are exposed to standing for prolonged periods of time without being able to walk around or sit down. Studies (1) have shown that this can lead to serious health problems including lower back pain and venous disorders in the legs. A 2002 study of 204 hairdressers reported that they were standing for an average of 82-99% of their working day with lower back pain being the biggest problem (2).

In the case of Jun, his ten-hour work days caused an increased susceptibility to acute back injury and the subsequent development of chronic lower back pain.

The three week trial with Myovolt was long enough to convince him of the effectiveness and benefits of regular use of the technology.

“I got too used to it with the work trial. When the trial finished, I went out and immediately bought one.”

Whether you're a barber, a nurse or a retail worker, if you are struggling with the daily challenge of lower back pain you are not alone. This is a problem that now affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide and at Myovolt we are committed to developing and validating impactful products that can provide part of the solution.

Dynamic movement is one of the best ways to reduce the risk of health problems due to prolonged standing. Check out these nine exercises that might help you on your road to recovery.

References

(1) Rehabil Nurs. 2015 May-Jun; 40(3): 148–165.

(2) Journal of Occupational Health and Safety Australia and New Zealand. 2002;18(313):67–76.

At Myovolt we have been working with both large employers and small businesses to validate the impact of our products in managing common musculoskeletal conditions found in the workplace. Of these conditions, lower back injury is the largest problem with industry sectors at highest risk being; construction, manufacturing, nursing, retail, security and logistics.

Employees in many of these occupations are exposed to standing for prolonged periods of time without being able to walk around or sit down. Studies (1) have shown that this can lead to serious health problems including lower back pain and venous disorders in the legs. A 2002 study of 204 hairdressers reported that they were standing for an average of 82-99% of their working day with lower back pain being the biggest health problem (2).

In the case of Jun, his ten-hour work days caused an increased susceptibility to acute back injury and the subsequent development of chronic lower back pain.

The three week trial with Myovolt was long enough to convince him of the effectiveness and benefits of regular use of the technology.

“I got too used to it with the work trial. When the trial finished, I went out and immediately bought one.”

Whether you're a barber, a nurse or a retail worker, if you are struggling with the daily challenge of lower back pain you are not alone. This is a problem that now affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide and at Myovolt we are committed to developing and validating impactful products that can provide part of the solution.

Dynamic movement is one of the best ways to reduce the risk of health problems due to prolonged standing. Check out these nine exercises that might help you on your road to recovery.

References

(1) Rehabil Nurs. 2015 May-Jun; 40(3): 148–165.

(2) Journal of Occupational Health and Safety Australia and New Zealand. 2002;18(313):67–76.

Myovolt Back fits comfortably around the lower back, side, hips or abdominals and delivers a 10 minute focal vibration ...