Finding out that a job you’ve been doing for years is causing you harm is devastating. In some cases, repetitive stress injuries generate symptoms that slowly build up to being intolerable over time. Other cases of repetitive stress injuries may show up suddenly when the wrong move or too much force suddenly strains parts of your body that have been struggling for weeks or years.

Highlighting how repetitive stress injuries develop on the job empowers employees and employers to take action to safeguard everyone’s health. While you might not be able to avoid needing to type for managing your job duties, there are ways to prevent strain from harming your hands and wrists. Employers can also use what they know about repetitive stress injuries to create safer work conditions that prevent costly liabilities.

Exploring the many ways that repetitive stress injuries happen allows everyone to enjoy long careers that lead to better overall happiness. Plus, you may benefit from being able to recognize a repetitive stress injury early enough to seek treatment that preserves your current abilities.

Watch Out for Repetitive Movements and Forceful Exertion

If you’ve ever gotten into the flow of performing your work duties, then you might not notice that you are engaging in repetitive motions. For instance, swinging a hammer on a rooftop can turn into a rhythmic motion that moves you into a hyper-focused state. Meanwhile, constantly moving your arm and hand in the same way with every swing could be causing excess strain that leads to injuries.

The same is true about many types of work tasks. Typing on a computer, assembling products in a warehouse and using power tools can all require moving in ways that are highly repetitive. Although your brain may fall into a pattern that barely requires thinking about what you are doing, your body could be taking the brunt of every motion.

The body’s joints, muscles and ligaments are meant to bend and stretch in different directions throughout the course of a day. When you perform the same movements over and over, these parts of your body never get a chance to recover before they are tasked with handling the same forces again.

Tasks that require forceful exertion are also associated with repetitive stress injuries because they increase the strain. Warehouse workers often face repetitive stress injuries to their shoulders and backs due to forcefully lifting or pulling objects multiple times an hour throughout the day. Power equipment that uses forceful vibration can also raise the risk of repetitive stress injuries. While you might not be moving your body yourself, the constant vibration strains your muscles and joints.

Know the Common Types of Repetitive Stress Injuries

Carpal tunnel disorder is one of the most common types of repetitive stress injuries. People who work in offices may overlook the serious harm that can happen over time when they are constantly typing or clicking their way through pages on their computer. This condition impacts the median nerve in the forearm and hand. Numbness and tingling in the fingers are two symptoms people tend to notice first.

Tennis elbow is another common type of injury that you might get off the courts. Although athletes are prone to this condition, it’s also common among people in the construction industry. Using tools such as hammers, paint rollers and screwdrivers can strain the muscles in your forearm through your elbow. Keep in mind that chefs also commonly experience this condition due to handling pots and using spatulas throughout the day.

Trigger finger is another condition that you could develop from constantly doing everything from using a mouse on the computer to spending time on an assembly line. Farmers, machinists and construction workers are also prone to this type of injury. Pain and tenderness in your finger are among the first signs. Without treatment, you could find it hard to move your finger into certain positions.

Spine disorders are another common category of repetitive stress injuries that people sometimes overlook. Sciatica, herniated discs and degenerative disc disease aren’t always caused by normal aging or a sudden accident. While it takes a trained doctor to make the diagnosis, developing spinal disorders could be linked to the job duties you perform at work.

Focus On Ergonomics and Other Environmental Changes

Both employers and employees have ways to minimize the risk of repetitive strain injuries. As an employee, you have the right to a safe workplace. Depending on the type of work you perform, this could include your employer being required to make reasonable accommodations to help you maintain proper posture or take breaks as you work.

For example, an office worker might need an ergonomic workstation that includes a desk and chair at the appropriate height for them to maintain good posture as they type. People in jobs that require heavy lifting may also need special equipment to reduce the load they place on their backs and legs. Employers can also be expected to provide reasonable training to teach employees how to prevent injuries when they perform repetitive tasks.

Even something as simple as keeping the workplace warm enough to promote better flexibility in a person’s joints and muscles is helpful for preventing repetitive stress injuries. As an employee, you can also choose to use the best posture for handling tools or moving during repetitive tasks and stretch your limbs and hands during breaks.

Employers can do their due diligence to provide ergonomic tools and work stations that help to prevent repetitive stress injuries. As an employee, you can request breaks that allow your body to recover from repetitive tasks. Using the correct posture and listening to your body’s signals that it has had enough could also help stop a repetitive stress injury from worsening.

Once you notice the signs of a repetitive stress injury, it’s important to seek medical testing and treatment. Since some of these types of injuries are challenging to link to a specific work duty, you might need further guidance to successfully secure the compensation you need. Work Injury Advisor is an important resource for injured workers. Most importantly, staying on track with your treatment plan is essential for giving you the best potential outcome for your recovery.