When most people picture a workplace injury, they think about a violent or noteworthy accident. Maybe a slip and fall, a collision between vehicles, or an equipment malfunction. In reality, many workplace injuries develop over time, and their onset can be difficult to identify because there is not always an associated accident.
Repetitive motion injuries are a temporary or permanent injury to muscles, nerves, ligaments, and tendons caused by repeatedly performing the same motion. The repetitive motion injury that most people are most familiar with is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
What are the most common repetitive motion injuries?
- Tendinitis: the inflammation of a tendon that connects muscle to bone. Tendinitis is commonly found in the shoulder, biceps, elbow, and ankle.
- Bursitis: the inflammation or irritation of the small pouches in your joints. Bursitis is most commonly found in the elbow, knee, and hip.
- Tenosynovitis: the inflammation of the fluid-filled sheath surrounding a tendon. Tenosynovitis is most commonly found in the wrist.
- Trigger finger: when a finger gets stuck in a bent position.
How to identify a repetitive motion injury:
Repetitive motion injuries can be challenging to identify since they develop over time. Some tell-tale signs include pain, tingling, the inability to perform easy tasks, numbness, visible swelling, and loss of flexibility or strength. If you experience any of these symptoms in areas of your body that you use a lot at work, for example, if you reach above your head every day to operate machinery and develop pain or discomfort in your shoulder, you should get checked out for a repetitive motion injury.
How to treat repetitive motion injuries:
The best way to treat repetitive motion injuries is through rest and physical therapy. If you suspect you have a repetitive motion injury, get checked out by an orthopedic doctor who can then develop an appropriate treatment plan for you.
Sometimes, recovery from a repetitive motion injury means time away from work. If you find that you need help or legal support, then contact Grupo Via Dorada for representation. We can help you seek the medical treatment you deserve while securing either job security or financial compensation on your behalf.