When the Pain Stops You Critical illness and injury amongst DCs Kathy Paganos is a senior consul- tant with Morneau Sobeco’s Group Association practice. She joined the firm in 2008 and is based in Toronto. Kathy assists clients with the management of their group benefits programs. She provides a full suite of services in this area, including strategic consulting, plan reviews, carrier renewal support, and market studies. Kathy is a graduate of the University of Toronto and is currently working to- wards a designation as a Certified Employee Benefits Specialist. L • • • ike the age-old adage referring to the cobbler’s children walking barefoot, a chiropractor may focus on the health needs of clients instead of his or her own. Efforts to build and sustain a practice and manage other personal issues are likely to impact his or her health and wellness at some point. This is particularly the case for chiropractors that either fully or partly own their clinics, and deal with the daily chal- lenges and stressors that come with entrepreneurial territory. THE RISK FACTORS Like all health-care practitioners, mental and physical stresses are two common work- place issues that chiropractors face. Studies show that there is a strong correlation be- tween mental and physical health. Canadians with symptoms of depression report ex- periencing three times as many chronic physical conditions according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information. Conversely, people suffering chronic physical condi- tions – like repetitive strain – are identifi ed by the Government of Canada as being twice as likely to experience a mood or anxiety disorder. Three of the major risk factors and causes of stress are : Infrequent rest breaks, Long work hours, and Increases in work intensity (higher patient load). While a reasonable amount of stress in one’s life can help motivate and enhance performance, a large amount of stress can be detrimental to one’s overall health. During highly stressful times, it is common for health and well-being to suffer and this can sig- nifi cantly impact one’s ability to cope. The longer these stressors persist, the more severe the consequences. Practitioners who experience co-existing mental and physical conditions typically suffer lengthier and more severe illnesses and conditions, translating into increased work absences and higher benefi ts costs. Periods of disability due to stress tend to be much longer than 8 • CANADIAN CHIROPRACTOR | OCTOBER 2009 www.canadianchiropractor.ca Katerina Paganos feature
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