You spend your days looking after other people. Whether you’re on the ward, behind the desk, or keeping the whole place moving behind the scenes, healthcare work asks a lot from your body, and not just the obvious physical stuff.
Prolonged standing, repetitive lifting and bending, extended shifts at a workstation, and the cumulative weight of a high-demand environment all place real strain on the musculoskeletal system. According to the ACA, healthcare and community service workers are among those most at risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in Australia, accounting for a significant proportion of workers’ compensation claims nationally.
Ive seen many health care workers over the last 20 years of practice who needed to prioritise their own health better. It is important to listen to our bodies and get a thorough biomechanical physical examination as the body’s messages can be challenging to understand with all the compensations and complexities.”
Your spine plays an important role in supporting posture, movement, and everyday function. When it’s under sustained load, whether from hours on your feet, awkward patient-handling positions, or hunching over a workstation between rounds, it may contribute to discomfort, fatigue, and reduced ease of movement.
A Few Things Worth Checking
If you’re standing for long periods, shift your weight and position regularly. For desk-based work, monitor height, chair setup, and movement breaks every 30 minutes can all make a measurable difference. Small consistent habits, not a single big fix.
We’re Healthcare Providers Too
Dr Paul, Dr Jenae, and Dr Glenn understand the rhythms of healthcare work. A personalised spinal assessment looks at your whole picture and fits around shift schedules, with hours from 7:30 am Monday through to late on Sunday evenings.
Book a Chiropractic Assessment This Spinal Health Month
A Note for Hospital HR and Workforce Managers
WMSDs (work-related musculoskeletal disorders) are the leading work health and safety issue in Australia, costing the economy more than $55 billion annually. Dalkeith Chiropractic offers corporate rates for healthcare organisations whose staff want access to ongoing spinal health assessments as part of a broader workplace wellbeing programme.