Health

Back Pain Prevention in Construction: 10 Tips for Success

Published

3 years ago

March 31, 2023

If you work in the construction industry or a related field, you’re especially vulnerable to back pain and complicated lower back issues. The good news is, most back injuries and pain are preventable with the right habits and strategies.

What are the most important steps to take?

Why Back Injuries Are So Important to Prevent

First, let’s address why back injuries are so important to prevent. Back injuries are among the most common injuries on construction job-sites, and they can be devastating to a person’s physical health and sense of wellbeing. After a single back injury, a person can struggle with back pain for the rest of their lives – and interfere with their ability to work in the future.

Because of this, and because back injuries can also be difficult to treat, back injuries are disproportionately expensive for construction companies and insurance companies.

Also, most back injuries can be prevented with simple policies and procedures – so there are few, if any costs associated with back injury and back pain prevention.

Tips for Back Pain Prevention

If you’re an employee in the construction industry, you should follow these tips for back pain prevention. If you’re an employer in the construction industry, you should ensure that all of your employees follow these tips.

Avoid lifting whenever possible. Back injuries are most commonly attributable to lifting something that’s too heavy, or lifting something the wrong way. Accordingly, you can prevent many back injuries by avoiding the lifting action altogether. Is there an alternative way you can move heavy items? Is there a way to avoid this work entirely?
Store materials at a convenient height. If and when you do need to move things, store those materials at a convenient, accessible height. Ideally, these items will be available at or above waist height, making it easier and more intuitive for employees to lift these items properly.
Lift with your legs. “Lift with your legs” is a common instruction, and an essential one to follow. But what does that really mean? Basically, it means bending your legs and using your legs as a main source of force when attempting to pick something up; the alternative, bending over and rounding your back, can set you up for a herniated disc or a similar injury.
Avoid twisting your spine. Similarly, you should avoid twisting your spine when lifting or carrying something, as this can render you prone to injury as well. Also, when carrying something, keep it close to the center of your body.
Utilize extra equipment. Carts, dollies, forklifts, and hoists are just a few of the tools and resources that can assist you in lifting and moving things. Utilize these pieces of equipment whenever you have the opportunity.
Use proper posture when sitting or standing. Even if you’re not exerting yourself, sitting or standing with poor posture can increase your risk of a back injury. Keep your spine straight and your shoulders back at all times.
Use major muscle groups to lift. When lifting things, try to engage your biggest muscle groups, rather than relying on areas of your body with limited to no muscle mass. For example, the latissimus dorsi (lat) muscles in your upper back that help you extend and rotate your arms are typically bigger, stronger, and more resilient than the smaller, thinner muscles in your lower back.
Get help. Instead of lifting something heavy by yourself, consider getting help. There’s no shame in team lifting something if it means both people are less likely to suffer a back injury.
Take breaks (and rotate crew members). Don’t lift more frequently than necessary. If you’ve been lifting and carrying things to the point of being fatigued, take a break and consider rotating out with another team member. Share responsibilities associated with back injuries with the rest of the team.
Rest and recover when necessary. If you do experience a back injury or suffer from any back pain, take the time to rest and recover. If you push yourself too far when you’re already injured, you could end up making your injury much worse. Get the medical help you need and refrain from engaging in heavy lifting responsibilities until you’re 100 percent better.

Bonus Tip: Hold Others Accountable

Here’s one more important tip for you: hold other people accountable to following these standards. There’s much you can do to prevent injuries in your own approach to work, but part of maintaining a safe job-site is helping other people stay safe as well. Don’t be afraid to call someone out and educate them when you notice them lifting something incorrectly.

Simple, inexpensive, proactive efforts are usually more than enough to prevent back injuries. Don’t let lax standards at your construction job-site harm your best workers.

Health

How a Quiet Fulham Clinic Became London’s Most Coveted Wellness Secret

Published

2 weeks ago

October 2, 2025

Michelle Langton

Photo Courtesy of: Spa & Massage

Byline: Gerome Alvarez

In London’s cutthroat wellness landscape, few businesses manage to capture community attention without fanfare or celebrity endorsements. Yet Spa & Massage Fulham has accomplished exactly this, weaving itself into the cultural fabric of one of London’s most discerning neighborhoods within weeks of its September 2025 opening. The phenomenon began as whispers among friends, colleagues, and neighbors—all independently discovering what would soon become known across social media platforms as “the best massage in London.”

This organic word-of-mouth growth reveals something deeper than marketing prowess; it signals a genuine transformation in how Londoners approach wellness and self-care. The clinic at 709 Fulham Road represents more than successful business expansion; it embodies a broader cultural shift toward viewing therapeutic massage as essential healthcare rather than occasional luxury.

The Science-Backed Foundation

The surging demand for massage therapy is not merely about relaxation; it is rooted in substantial scientific evidence that validates what clients experience firsthand. Research consistently demonstrates that massage therapy reduces cortisol levels by up to 31% while increasing mood-regulating neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine by 28% and 31% respectively. These physiological changes translate into tangible benefits: improved sleep quality, enhanced focus, reduced chronic pain, and strengthened immune function.

“Massage therapy works in multiple ways to help reduce stress. First and foremost, it helps to lower levels of cortisol, the primary stress hormone,” explains recent research on therapeutic massage. For London’s high-pressure lifestyle, this represents more than indulgence; it is preventive healthcare. The integration of scientific expertise sets Spa & Massage apart from typical wellness businesses, with Professor Eyal Lederman, a world-renowned expert in neurophysiology and manual therapy, serving as the company’s medical director.

The Visionary Origins

The story begins in 2007 when entrepreneurs Alykhan and Nicole Thobani, inspired by journeys through Thailand, recognized a fundamental gap in London’s wellness market. Rather than treating massage as an expensive luxury, the couple witnessed how Eastern cultures integrated therapeutic touch as essential to balanced living, as fundamental as diet and exercise. This revelation sparked the mission to bring accessible, high-quality massage therapy to London’s high streets.

“What sets us apart from other massage therapy providers is having Professor Eyal Lederman as part of our team,” Thobani explains. Professor Lederman’s research at King’s College London on the neurophysiology of manual therapy provides the scientific foundation that distinguishes Spa & Massage from competitors. Nearly two decades later, the company now serves over 2,500 clients weekly across seven London locations, with each expansion building upon lessons learned from previous successes.

The Fulham Experience Defined

The newest location deliberately avoids ostentatious luxury, instead creating what insiders describe as “understated sophistication”—an environment that whispers quality rather than shouting opulence. Central to the experience is the signature bespoke tea blend, crafted in-house to begin each client’s journey toward relaxation. This attention to detail extends throughout the treatment, where therapists like Roxanne—with backgrounds in clinical physiotherapy and experience from London’s most prestigious five-star spas—deliver what clients describe as transformative sessions.

The clinic’s approach attracts therapists of exceptional caliber, including professionals like Olga, who draws “many celebrity clients and high-profile athletes” for her transformative skills. Operating seven days a week from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM, the clinic makes professional massage therapy accessible to busy Londoners seeking consistent, science-backed wellness solutions. The discrete nature of the clientele, protected by sunglasses and an air of privacy, has only added to the brand’s mystique and appeal.

Building an Extraordinary Following

Since its inception, Spa & Massage Fulham has cultivated what can only be described as a devoted following that transcends typical service provider relationships. “Our team is obsessed with making sure that each client has an expert massage, with a positive health and wellbeing outcome,” Thobani notes. This focus on measurable results rather than superficial relaxation has attracted clients who view regular massage not as an occasional indulgence but as essential maintenance for peak performance.

Client testimonials consistently emphasize transformational outcomes that extend far beyond the treatment room. “I have been coming for my regular massage every week for years now, I just sleep better, I am happier, calmer, and perform at my very best. With massage therapy I live my best life. It is like I feel superhuman during the week,” shares one long-term client. This level of commitment reflects a fundamental shift in how affluent Londoners prioritize health and wellbeing, with weekly bookings becoming the norm rather than the exception among regular clients.

The Future of London Wellness

Perhaps most intriguingly, Spa & Massage has attracted backing from heavyweight private equity professionals and investment banking leaders, not as corporate investments, but as personal commitments from individuals who became clients first. These investors, who Thobani diplomatically describes as preferring discretion, represent a fascinating convergence of professional success and personal wellness priorities. This phenomenon reflects broader trends in the wellness investment landscape, where private equity firms increasingly recognize the substantial returns in premium wellness services.

As Spa & Massage Fulham establishes itself in one of London’s most competitive wellness markets, it represents the evolution of urban healthcare toward proactive, science-backed solutions. The clinic’s success suggests that Londoners are ready to embrace massage therapy as an essential component of modern urban living, challenging traditional notions of luxury and self-care. In this context, the quiet revolution unfolding at 709 Fulham Road points toward a future where wellness is not an afterthought but a cornerstone of how successful professionals maintain an edge in an increasingly demanding world.