Work-related injuries are common and can be incapacitating, especially when they cause chronic pain. Timely and comprehensive medical care is vital as it can result in reduced pain and quicker recovery. Samwell Institute for Pain Management has specialists who are experienced in handling work-related injuries in Colonia, New Jersey, assisting patients in obtaining the relief they need.
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What is a work-related injury?
A work-related injury is an injury that happens when an individual is occupied in his or her work activity. When most people hear about injuries, the first thing that comes in mind is a specific injurious event. While that is the reality, other injuries can emerge. Repetitive motion or overuse injuries are prevalent in workplaces and usually result in chronic and painful conditions that affect your shoulders, neck, knees, hips, back, and other parts of the body.
Causes of workplace injuries
If your occupation necessitates you to do repetitive tasks for a prolonged period, you may be at a higher risk of getting an overuse work-related injury. Such occupations include:
- Construction worker
- Dancers
- Lab workers
- Drivers
- Any job that requires a lot of typing
- Factory worker
- Hairdressers
- Musicians
- Mail workers
- Office work
Several other jobs present a high risk of getting a workplace injury over time.
Risk factors in developing workplace injuries
Work practices and workplace design can contribute to workplace injuries. Risk factors might include:
- Repetitive manual tasks
- Tight deadlines that prevent workers from taking enough breaks
- Workplace design that requires twisting, stretching, or bending
- Machinery that works too fast for worker comfort – necessitating the worker to move fast
- Benches or workstations that are too far, too low, or too high from the body
- Equipment, tools, and furniture that don’t conform with the body
Chronic conditions that can result from workplace conditions
While identifying the connection between prolonged damage due to an injury that happened at a specific time is easier than lasting damage that happens over years of repetitive tasks, both are considered as workplace injuries if they occurred in the workplace. These injuries can cause chronic and painful conditions, including:
- Muscle strains
- Knee pain
- Lower back pain
- Arthritis
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
Getting timely treatment is essential to ensure the best treatment results.
Preventing workplace injuries
While you can get treatment for many workplace injuries, it is usually healthier to prevent workplace injuries from arising. That can be achieved by adapting workplace conditions to put less strain on the body of the employee. These include:
- Modifying tasks
- Educating employees on proper working techniques
- Changing the working pace
- Designing more ergonomic working spaces
- Setting realistic deadlines
- Schedule work to include regular breaks
Treating workplace injuries focuses on the underlying causes and eliminating or minimizing any chronic pain that you might be experiencing.
If you or your loved one has sustained a workplace injury, Samwell Institute for Pain Management can help. Call their offices or book online to schedule an appointment with a team of specialists to get the treatment you need and to learn how to protect yourself from injury in the future.