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The last two articles in this series pointed out that back injuries do not occur overnight unless acute trauma occurs. Rather, they are the result of cumulative trauma--they develop gradually over a period of time. Even though back injuries appear to be related to a single event (i.e., "While lifting the patient up I felt my back pop."), they are actually related to repeated events that predispose a person's body to the final breakdown event.

A healthy back is necessary for every activity a person undertakes--whether at work, home, or anywhere else. Preventing back problems is more effective than treating them after they happen. If a person gets a back injury, it may not be caused just by a single activity, but by many activities and lifestyle choices that have added up over time.

Home care organizations focus on patients and families. But caring for care providers--their employees--is another paramount responsibility. In this and the following two issues, CARING magazine will highlight and suggest strategies for preventing a major problem facing employees, employers, and patients: back injuries. This article will give an overview of the problem and focus on organizational needs and responses. The subsequent issues will cover ergonomic and personal approaches to preventing back injury.