Work-Related Repetitive Motion Injury Causes, Treatments, and Prevention


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Repetitive motion injuries are one of the most common Workers’ Compensation injuries.  Often these injuries happen to those who do factory or assembly line work where they are doing the same thing over and over, or by using a tool that causes vibrations or shaking.  Repetitive motions can lead to carpal tunnel, neck, back, foot, knee or shoulder pains.  Treating a repetitive motion injury when it first begins is key to ensuring it does not lead to a chronic problem like arthritis.

Treating a repetitive motion injury should include seeing an orthopaedic physician in combination with at-home treatments.  When an injury first occurs you should stop the activity and check the injury to see what caused it.  Look for things like swelling, trauma, bleeding, bruising, stiffness, muscle or limb weakness and joint pain.  These are signs that the injury needs to be addressed by a physician immediately.  For injuries that have minimal damage, you can treat at home by using an NSAID to reduce swelling, rest, and using an ice pack for 20 minutes, four to eight times per day.  Find an orthopaedic physician and make an appointment and begin a treatment plan that can reduce long term damage to the injury.

Avoiding future injuries is important so that the chance of re-injury is lowered.  Ensure everything is set up in an ergonomically correct fashion including holding tools, setting up chairs and computer monitors.  This helps prevent joint pain, back pain, increased risk of arthritis and headaches.  Check with your human resources department if you need assistance. 

Many injuries happen because the person is excessively lifting, pulling, holding or carrying items.  To avoid this kind of injury make sure you are not overexerting yourself.  Your employer should be able to assist in finding you something that can help or finding alternative ways to get the tasks accomplished.  Following the safety rules in your office in general is important for avoiding workers’ compensation injuries. If an employee goes against the set rules and disregards safety warnings and they get hurt, they will not be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, so it is important you know what those rules are.

If you find yourself in a position where you qualify for Workers’ Compensation and live in Georgia, give our office a call. You can find out more about our program by visiting lowbackpain.com/workerscomp

Sources:

http://www.painmanagementdr.com/blog/2016/february/treating-work-related-repetitive-use-injuries.aspx

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