Final answer:
The number of back injuries in healthcare professionals can be influenced by factors such as the aging workforce, patient obesity, patient immobility, and lack of caregiver exercise. These factors compound the physical demands on healthcare staff, leading to an increased risk of musculoskeletal injuries.
Step-by-step explanation:
Factors that influence the number of back injuries include the advancing age of the nursing workforce, increasing obesity of patients, sicker and less mobile patients, and a lack of exercise among caregivers. The aging population of nurses may lead to an increase in musculoskeletal issues due to the physical demands of patient care. Indeed, heavier patients require more physical effort to move and support, which can strain the back.
Furthermore, when patients are seriously ill and less capable of moving independently, more physical intervention from nursing staff is required, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, nurses and caregivers who do not engage in regular exercise may lack the muscular strength and flexibility needed to perform their duties without sustaining injuries.
Research has shown that job strain and job burnout are significant risk factors, particularly among older workers in manual labor positions, which can compound the physical stresses leading to back injuries (Ahola, et al., 2006). A lack of adequate support, high stress, and feelings of receiving little in return for one's labor can also contribute to burnout, which may indirectly influence the number of physical injuries such as those to the back (Tatris, Peeters, Le Blanc, Schreurs, & Schaufeli, 2001).