Study Finds Relatives and Spouses of Disabled People Mostly Suffer Chronic Back Pain

Spouses and caregivers of disabled patients mostly suffer from back pain and physical injuries, according to a study.

Disability and motor impairments caused by accidents, illnesses and injuries not only make patients severely dependant on others to perform simple daily activities, it can also be burdensome to the health and wellbeing of their partners and caregivers. A recent study by the Ohio State University suggests family members and spouses looking after disabled patients are at risk of developing body pain, physical discomfort and injuries. The researchers found 14 million of these informal caregivers devote more than 21 hours daily by doing physically demanding tasks like feeding, bathing, pushing wheel chairs, transferring sick patients or helping them recover from falls.

The study noted 94 percent of the 46 participants who were interviewed, reported experiencing pain in at least one part of their body. Musculoskeletal problems like chronic pain in the lower back, knees, shoulder and wrist were the most common physical conditions endured by the subjects. Nearly 78 percent of them agreed that body pain affected their ability to provide care to disabled family members. Almost 66 percent of the informal caregivers also felt body pain had negatively impacted their quality of life.

"Interestingly, professional caregivers report similar experiences, but they have access to both training and technology that help them reduce their risk of injury. Informal caregivers may not receive training in how to handle patients without injuring themselves or their loved one," said Amy Darragh, study author and occupational therapist at the Ohio State University's School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, in a press release.

"Our research offers a first look at which tasks may carry the highest risk of injury, and may inform development of interventions to protect these high-burden caregivers," she adds.

The study also provides tips to the informal caregivers for proper patient handling and to reduce risk of injuries. The authors urge caregivers to attend training classes conducted by the Red Cross and other agencies and research online to know more about patient care. Maintaining proper records and organizing daily tasks can help prioritize only important activities. In addition, staying connected with support groups, charity organizations and other relatives can ease the burden of dealing with treatment and hospitalization expenses.

Above all, taking care of one's health by getting adequate sleep and eating healthy is extremely important for those who dedicate a great deal of their life treating and nursing sick patients, believe the authors.

"Millions of people and our healthcare system rely on these caregivers. Many caregivers value caring for a friend or family member, however they may also be at risk of pain, discomfort or injury from performing caregiving activities. The more we know about what they go through, the better interventions, resources and technologies we can develop to keep them and their loved ones safe and healthy," said Darragh.

More information is available online in the Journal of Applied Gerontology.