Repetitive motion injuries are a common cause of disability and could justify a workers’ comp claim
Many jobs involve repetition, as workers must complete the same or very similar tasks all day long. Some of this repetition is mental and some is physical. When work involves physical repetition, repetitive motion injuries can result.
Repetitive motion injuries may not be the most dramatic type of workplace injuries, but they are some of the most common. In fact, as many as 60 percent of all job-related injuries are caused by repetitive motions, and one in eight American workers will suffer this type of injury in the course of their career.
Types of Work Most Likely to Result in Repetitive Motion Injuries
Computer Work: Working at a computer for prolonged periods of time—whether in an office or any other work environment—has the potential to put strain on various parts of the body. Wrists, hands, and elbows can develop nerve injuries from hours and hours of typing, while neck and back injuries are also possible if the worker has to strain to reach the computer or see the screen.
Grocery Checking: Grocery checkout clerks have a disproportionately high incidence of repetitive motion injuries. They may pull or slide products across the scanner thousands of times in a single shift, which can eventually cause damage to the wrists, hands, and elbows. Lifting items to bag them may cause back injuries.
Static Posturing: Repetitive motion injuries are common in all kinds of positions that require static posturing, aka remaining in a fixed position for a long period of time. For example, jobs that require eight hours of sitting or standing would definitely qualify as static posturing. This might describe a truck driver or an assembly line worker. Static posturing can also include prolonged gripping or grasping, such as a painter, pipe setter, musician, or jackhammer operator might need to do.
Types of Repetitive Motion Injuries
Repetitive motion injuries can involve a variety of different medical conditions such as:
- Carpal tunnel—swelling in bones and ligaments that puts pressure on the nerves, causing pain, tingling, and numbness
- Tendinitis—tears in the tissue connecting muscles to bone
- Myofascial damage—tenderness and swelling due to overworked muscles
- Tenosynovitis—irritation between tendons and their sheaths
- Cervical radiculopathy—compression of discs in the neck
Any of these conditions, as well as other types of repetitive motion injuries, can be painful to the point where the injured worker is unable to continue working in their current position. The disability may be temporary or permanent, but in either case it should be covered by workers’ compensation insurance.
We Can Help You Get the Benefits You Deserve
If you have suffered a repetitive motion injury at work, you do not need to struggle through the workers’ compensation process on your own. Instead, hire an experienced workers’ compensation attorney from The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker to guide you. We will ensure your claim is filed correctly to put you in the best possible position to receive maximum benefits. Call 800-333-0000 now for a free consultation.
