Can You Get Workers’ Comp for Repetitive Motion Injuries?

• May 28, 2021
• Blog
• Michael Burgis & Associates, P.C

Repetitive motion injuries, also known as repetitive stress injuries or overuse injuries, are a significant concern for workers across various industries. Unlike sudden traumatic injuries caused by accidents, these injuries develop gradually due to the repeated performance of the same tasks. They can affect muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments, and nerves, leading to chronic pain and disability if left unaddressed. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, repetitive motion injuries account for approximately 30% of all workplace injuries, highlighting their prevalence. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore what repetitive motion injuries are, their causes, symptoms, treatment options, prevention strategies, and your legal rights as an injured worker. By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of how to protect yourself and what steps to take if you’re already experiencing symptoms.

What Are Repetitive Motion Injuries?

When people think of workplace injuries, they commonly imagine catastrophic accidents. While it is true that anticipated events at work, such as malfunctioning machinery or a backfiring tool, can lead to severe injuries, sometimes workers end up hurt without any major triggering event. Some of the most debilitating and painful work-related injuries don’t occur as the result of trauma. Instead, these injuries develop over time because workers perform the same tasks repeatedly. These injuries, called repetitive motion injuries, can affect your muscles, bones, and connective tissue (such as tendons, ligaments, and cartilage). They are common for people in all lines of work, from professional drivers and office workers to people who work in manufacturing.

Repetitive motion injuries occur due to cumulative stress on specific body parts, leading to inflammation, irritation, or damage. Common examples include:

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Caused by compression of the median nerve in the wrist, often from repetitive typing or gripping.
• Tendonitis: Inflammation of tendons, such as tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) or golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis).
• Bursitis: Inflammation of the bursae, small sacs that cushion joints, often in the shoulder or knee.
• Trigger Finger: A condition where a finger gets stuck in a bent position due to tendon inflammation.
• Rotator Cuff Injuries: Damage to the shoulder muscles and tendons from repetitive overhead motions.
• Plantar Fasciitis: Heel pain caused by repetitive stress on the foot, common in jobs requiring prolonged standing.

These injuries can significantly impact your ability to work and perform daily tasks, making early recognition and intervention critical.

Learn More About Repetitive Motion Injuries

Causes and Risk Factors

Repetitive motion injuries result from the cumulative effect of performing the same motion or set of motions over time. The repetitive stress causes microtrauma to tissues, which can lead to inflammation, degeneration, or nerve compression. Several factors increase the risk of developing these injuries:

• Repetitive Movements: Tasks like typing, assembly line work, or using tools (e.g., hammers, screwdrivers) repeatedly strain specific body parts.
• Poor Ergonomics: Workstations or tools not designed for the worker’s body can exacerbate stress. For example:
• A keyboard positioned too high can strain wrists.
• A chair without lumbar support can lead to back pain.
• Forceful Exertions: Using excessive force, such as lifting heavy objects repeatedly, accelerates tissue damage.
• Awkward Postures: Working in unnatural positions, like reaching overhead or twisting the torso, increases strain on muscles and joints.
• Vibration: Operating vibrating machinery, such as jackhammers or power tools, can contribute to conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome or Raynaud’s syndrome.
• Duration of Exposure: The longer and more frequently a worker performs a repetitive task, the higher the risk.

Industries particularly at risk include:

• Manufacturing: Assembly line workers performing repetitive tasks like screwing or packing.
• Construction: Workers using tools like drills or hammers for extended periods.
• Healthcare: Nurses or aides lifting patients or performing repetitive procedures.
• Office Work: Data entry clerks or administrative staff typing or using a mouse extensively.
• Transportation: Professional drivers gripping the steering wheel for long hours.

Understanding these risk factors can help workers and employers take proactive steps to reduce the likelihood of injury.

Symptoms and Warning Signs

Ignoring repetitive motion injuries only makes them worse. Many people who work in physical fields, whether it is construction or manufacturing, try to push through the pain when something hurts. After all, your job demands that you get everything done, regardless of how you feel. While this approach certainly helps with productivity, it does not help you heal. Ignoring pain, especially if you have recurring symptoms in the same area, could mean developing a worse injury over time. While you don’t want to call in sick or miss work just because of mild discomfort, if you notice ongoing pain in the same area while working, that is a warning sign of a potentially serious injury. Instead of brushing it off, you should seek medical evaluation as soon as you realize it’s more than a minor, one-time discomfort.

Common symptoms of repetitive motion injuries include:

• Pain or Discomfort: Dull, aching, or sharp pain in the affected area, often worsening with activity.
• Swelling or Tenderness: Inflammation in muscles, tendons, or joints.
• Stiffness: Difficulty moving the affected area, especially after rest.
• Weakness: Reduced strength in hands, wrists, or other affected areas.
• Numbness or Tingling: Often a sign of nerve compression, as in carpal tunnel syndrome.
• Limited Range of Motion: Difficulty moving joints or muscles fully.

These symptoms typically develop gradually, making them easy to dismiss initially. However, early intervention can prevent chronic conditions or permanent damage.

Treatment and Recovery

Proper medical evaluation, rest, and accommodations are often necessary for healing. The best thing you can do in the wake of discovering a repetitive motion injury is to follow your doctor’s orders. Whether you see a physician who works at your place of employment or your doctor, you will likely be told to rest. Depending on the location and nature of your repetitive motion injury, the doctor may recommend anything from physical therapy to surgery to address the issue. Chances are strong that you will need to stop performing the motion or action that led to the injury as well, at least until you fully recover.

Treatment options include:

• Rest and Activity Modification: Avoid repetitive motions that caused the injury, such as switching to different tasks or taking frequent breaks.
• Physical Therapy: Exercises to strengthen muscles, improve flexibility, and correct posture.
• Medications: Over-the-counter pain relievers (e.g., ibuprofen) or anti-inflammatory drugs to manage pain and swelling.
• Splints or Braces: Immobilizing the affected area to promote healing.
• Corticosteroid Injections: Used to reduce severe inflammation in specific cases.
• Surgery: For severe cases, such as releasing a compressed nerve in carpal tunnel syndrome or repairing a torn tendon.

Recovery time varies depending on the injury’s severity. For example, mild tendonitis may improve with weeks of rest, while severe cases requiring surgery could take months. Following medical advice and avoiding aggravating activities are critical for a full recovery.

Prevention Strategies

Preventing repetitive motion injuries is essential for maintaining a healthy workforce. Both employers and employees can take proactive steps to reduce the risk:

• Ergonomic Assessments: Adjust workstations to fit the worker’s body, ensuring proper chair height, monitor placement, and keyboard positioning.
• Job Rotation: Vary tasks to reduce repetitive strain on specific body parts.
• Regular Breaks: Take short breaks every 30–60 minutes to stretch and rest muscles.
• Training: Educate workers on proper techniques for lifting, typing, or using tools to minimize strain.
• Assistive Devices: Use ergonomic tools, such as keyboards with wrist rests or lifting aids, to reduce force and repetition.

Employers should also conduct regular workplace assessments to identify and address ergonomic risks. For example, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends ergonomic programs to reduce workplace injuries, which can lower costs and improve productivity.

Legal Rights and Accommodations

You should make sure that your employer receives all this documentation. Knowing that you require accommodations, such as different work tasks, can help your employer keep you at work during your recovery. More importantly, it can ensure that you don’t exacerbate your existing injury by continuing to perform the same motions. Sadly, some employers refuse to work with injured workers. If your employer refuses you basic accommodations or medical leave because of a repetitive motion injury, you may need to take further action. Carefully documenting your request for accommodations, as well as the recommendations of your doctor, can help you build a case if you need to take legal action.

If you suffer from a repetitive motion injury due to work, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, which can cover:

• Medical Expenses: Costs for doctor visits, therapy, medications, or surgery.
• Lost Wages: Compensation for time off work due to the injury.
• Disability Benefits: Payments for temporary or permanent disability caused by the injury.

Key steps to protect your rights include:

• Report the Injury Promptly: Notify your employer as soon as you notice symptoms to start the workers’ compensation process.
• Seek Medical Attention: Obtain a diagnosis and follow your doctor’s treatment plan.
• Document Everything: Keep records of medical visits, treatments, and communications with your employer or insurance company.
• Request Accommodations: Request modified duties or schedules to support your recovery.
• Consult an Attorney: If your claim is denied or your employer refuses accommodations, a workers’ compensation attorney can help.

Firms like Michael Burgis & Associates, P.C., specialize in helping injured workers navigate the workers’ compensation system and secure the benefits they deserve.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

To address common concerns and long-tail queries, here are answers to frequently asked questions about repetitive motion injuries:

1. How can I tell if my pain is due to a repetitive motion injury?

If the pain is associated with a specific repetitive task at work and worsens with continued activity, it may be a repetitive motion injury. Consult a doctor for a proper diagnosis.

2. Can repetitive motion injuries be prevented?

Yes, through ergonomic adjustments, job rotation, regular breaks, and proper training on work techniques.

3. What should I do if my employer doesn’t provide accommodations for my injury?

Document your requests and the reasons for needing accommodations. If necessary, seek legal advice to ensure your rights are protected.

4. Is workers’ compensation the only option for repetitive motion injuries?

While workers’ compensation is the primary avenue, in some cases, other legal options may be available, especially if the injury was exacerbated by employer negligence.

5. How long does it take to recover from a repetitive motion injury?

Recovery time varies depending on the injury’s severity, ranging from weeks for mild cases to months for severe cases requiring surgery.

6. Can office workers develop repetitive motion injuries?

Yes, tasks like typing or using a mouse for extended periods can lead to injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome or tendonitis.

If you’re suffering from a repetitive motion injury due to your work, don’t wait to seek help. The experienced team at Michael Burgis & Associates, P.C., is here to guide you through the workers’ compensation process and ensure you receive the benefits you’re entitled to. Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your case and explore your legal options.

Visit our website to learn more and schedule your free consultation.