Repetitive Motion In The Workplace Can Lead To Injuries

People often think of a workplace injury as a big, serious event that happens all at once. You fall off of a ladder. You’re injured by a machine. You’re struck by a vehicle on the job site.

Yes, these risks do exist, but it’s also important to remember that many injuries simply happen over time. They’re caused by the constant repetition of doing the same task over and over.

For instance, you could begin suffering from tendinitis, which is the painful inflammation of a tendon. This is common in the shoulder and the elbow. For instance, a construction worker who is constantly using hand tools could be at risk.

Don’t think that these injuries only happen in high-risk lines of work, however. Even office workers face risks from things like typing, which can lead to both tendinitis and bursitis. Both can cause significant pain and may require medical intervention.

Naturally, these injuries can also make it impossible to work. If your job consists of typing emails or swinging a hammer, and tendinitis makes it excruciatingly painful to do so, your productivity is going to plummet.

Everyone is at risk. It’s worth noting that medical professionals do say that men end up getting symptoms more often than women, but the gap between the two is not large. In any job where daily repetition is necessary, there is a chance for a serious injury. It may not happen all at once, but that doesn’t mean you’re not injured.

If you’re hurt on the job and you can’t work, it is very important for you to know all of your workers’ compensation rights in New York.

Source: WebMD, “Repetitive Motion Injuries,” accessed Jan. 10, 2018