Aug 5, 2019
How Repetitive Stress in the Workplace Can Affect Your Body
Nate Hansford
Many people view workplace injury as a single, life-altering accident, such as falling from a ladder or slipping on a wet floor. However, many workplace injuries occur as a result of repetitive stress put upon a person’s body every day. This could be a small range of motion such as ringing up groceries or a larger range such as picking up heavy boxes.
What Are Repetitive Stress Injuries?
Repetitive stress injuries (RSIs) are small traumas placed on your body due to repetitive motions you perform on the job. This could be conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, or rotary cuff syndrome.
An RSI may involve some or all of the following symptoms:
- pain (tenderness to throbbing aches in the affected area)
- tingling
- numbness
- loss of strength and/or coordination
- reduced range of motion
- reduced range of flexibility
You may not notice any symptoms initially or you may only experience symptoms while doing a particular activity. However, if not treated promptly, RSIs will get worse over time and could possibly affect you permanently.
Are You at Risk of Developing an RSI?
Many people assume those most at risk of developing an RSI are people with office jobs who use the computer for most of their workday. While office workers do suffer repetitive injuries to their hands, wrists, and arms, RSIs can occur in a wide range of other occupations as well. Any job where a person is subject to completing tasks that require repeated micro-movements is susceptible to this condition.
High-risk occupations for RSIs include:
- health care professionals;
- housekeepers;
- janitors;
- grocery clerks;
- delivery workers;
- commercial vehicle drivers;
- plumbers;
- agricultural workers;
- firefighters;
- musicians; and
- athletes.
Don’t Wait to File a Workers’ Compensation Claim
If you suspect you may have an RSI, don’t ignore the symptoms. Seek medical attention and notify your employer as soon as possible. Tell your doctor what you were doing when you began to feel the symptoms as well as the time of day they occur.
The time period for filing a claim begins at the time you first experienced the injury; which is why you shouldn’t wait to take legal action.
Contact Hansford McDaniel – Workers’ Compensation Attorneys
Our repetitive stress injury attorneys can help you file for maximum workers’ comp benefits. We have 20+ years of combined experience and have recovered millions of dollars in compensation for our past clients.
Call our firm today at 770-922-3660 or contact us online to discuss your claim.