Chad Estes

Hi Vicky, I can't agree with you more on how important learning in the psychomotor domain really is. I even believe it needs to be expanded above and beyond how you describe. I believe that learning in the psychomotor domain is incredibly important for self use as well. We have no programs in our brains that tell us how to move - how to sit, stand, lift, walk, talk, etc.... You get the picture. We have to learn everything! However, we as human beings learn just well enough to get an outcome, and once that point is reached, the overwhelming majority cease the refinement process in the movement domain. There is a reason that over 85% of people will experience back pain at some point in their lives - they haven't learned how to move correctly. Nurses are hit even harder: the incidence of back pain is almost twice the national average in the nursing profession. It is not enough to simply try and impose a ergonomic protocol on someone - i.e. "lift with your legs". We can't impose anything on anyone and have it be effective. People need to feel what efficient movement is. As soon as movement and attentional training for self use are implemented on a wide scale, these statistics aren't going to change much. Those that do implement them will have healthier, happier, more productive nurses that will be incredibly loyal to their jobs and organization. Thank you again, Vicky, for such a great article. Best Regards, Chad

a couple questions to those on this forum: here in the midwest, i've found that any type of ergonomic training for nurses is waaay too superficial and doesn't provide good strategies for helping nurses learn more efficient self use. anyone have any success stories where this isn't the case? what type of training have you received that you feel has had any benefit? thanks! chad

Hello - Back pain can be made to go away by learning how to use your structure in a more efficient way. Learning to move more efficiently doesn't have to mean spending hours in the gym - it can actually begin happening very quickly under the proper conditions. I am 37 years old, and suffered from a bi-lateral herniation at L5/S1, with degenerative disc disease in the three discs above that area. Utilizing movement re-education methods, I feel better now than I did at 18! NO JOKE! I now work with nurses much of the time to pass along this knowledge. Incredibly rewarding work! Best of luck to you! Chad

Hello - The thread on back pain is a bit old, but no one mentioned learning how to move better. It doesn't have to involve hours in the gym strengthening any muscles. You can reorganize your movement patterns and make them more efficient, thereby taking the majority of the stress away that is causing your pain. Look into the Feldenkrais Method or the Anat Baniel Method. They both work WONDERS in terms of learning how to move without pain! Good Luck!