A few years ago, I worked with a warehouse stocker named John who had injured his back and was looking to get back to full duty. His job was important to him because he had a family to support, which included taking care of an adult son with special needs.

Working as a morning stocker, John was on his feet for 8 hours, pushing and pulling pallet jacks full of goods, constantly lifting, bending and reaching, to stock his aisles before heading home to help his son. It’s no surprise that John became one of millions of Americans who missed time at work because of back pain.