Why Nurses Hurt: The Hidden Toll of Shift Work on Your Spine

Why Nurses Hurt: The Hidden Toll of Shift Work on Your Spine

If you’re a nurse (or know one), you already know the job is tough. Long hours, heavy lifting, and being on your feet for most of the day (or night!) can take a serious toll on the body.

But did you know? Around 20% of workers have non-standard schedules like rotating or night shifts—and in healthcare, that number is even higher. While shift work keeps hospitals running 24/7, it also comes with a price: musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) like back pain, shoulder strain, wrist pain, and sore knees.

And guess who’s hit the hardest? Nursing assistants. The rate of MSDs among nursing assistants is double that of higher-level healthcare providers.

What the Research Says 📊

A 2025 study looked at the difference between 8-hour shifts and 12-hour shifts for nursing assistants. Here’s what they found:

• Day shifts (8 hrs): Nurses were on their feet almost all day (walking, standing, lifting). Only about 10% of their shift was spent sitting—usually during lunch.

• 12-hour shifts: Even though they were longer, the physical breakdown of walking, standing, and sitting was similar to the 8-hour shifts, just stretched out over more time.

• Night shifts (8 hrs): These came with the most awkward postures and heavy patient-handling tasks. Nurses on night duty had more hand, wrist, knee, foot, and ankle pain, and lost the most workdays due to injuries.

On top of that, lifting bariatric patients carried a much higher injury risk for nursing assistants compared to registered nurses (62% vs. 15%). No surprise—your spine and joints can only take so much!

What This Means for Your Spine 🦴

• Repetitive lifting and bending put compressive loads on the lower back, leading to pain and potential injury.

• Standing for long hours strains knees, hips, and feet.

• Awkward postures (like twisting while lifting) increase the risk of injuries to the shoulders, wrists, and elbows.

• Fatigue from long or overnight shifts lowers your body’s resilience, making injuries more likely.

How Chiropractic Can Help Nurses 💙

Chiropractors work with nurses all the time, and here’s how care can help keep you moving:

✅ Spinal adjustments to relieve back pain and restore mobility✅ Soft tissue techniques to ease tight muscles from long shifts✅ Ergonomic advice for lifting, bending, and posture while on the job✅ Stretching and strengthening exercises to protect your spine and joints✅ Recovery strategies so your body bounces back faster between shifts

The Takeaway

Nursing is one of the most demanding jobs out there—not just emotionally, but physically. Whether you’re on an 8-hour day shift, a 12-hour marathon, or pulling nights, your body deserves care.

If you’re a nurse experiencing back, neck, or joint pain, don’t wait until it sidelines you. Chiropractic care can help keep your spine strong, reduce pain, and support you through those long shifts.

After all—you spend your days taking care of others. Isn’t it time to take care of yourself, too? 💙

Low Back Pain Chiropractor

Q: How does chiropractic care help with lower back pain?Chiropractors address spinal misalignments, muscle tension, and posture issues that often cause or worsen back pain.

Q: Is chiropractic safe for chronic back pain?Yes, chiropractic care is a safe and natural approach for managing both acute and chronic back pain without relying solely on medication.

Q: How many sessions will I need for back pain?It depends on the severity. Some patients feel relief in just a few visits, while others need ongoing care.

Q: Can chiropractic prevent future back pain?Yes, with posture correction, strengthening exercises, and regular spinal care, chiropractic can help reduce the risk of recurrence.

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For more information about how we can help YOU with your headaches and improve your underlying dysfunction so the problem doesn’t come back .

Please call Health Wise Chiropractic 03 9467 7889 or book online to see one of our Chiropractors in Sunbury or Melton/Strathtulloh Today!

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Each program contains - Information about the conditions - things to do and things to avoid - nutrition advice - all the stretches that are needed to help

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