When people in New York think about workplace injuries, they may immediately think about construction and jobs that require significant manual labor. While many workers in those industries do experience workplace injuries, employees in less dangerous settings can also suffer injuries. People who use computers every day or work in assembly lines may not have what most people think of as dangerous jobs, but due to the repetitive nature of their job requirements, they can suffer repetitive motion injuries.
There are many different types of repetitive motion injuries which can become worse and worse over time. One common one is carpal tunnel syndrome. Over time the wrist can become inflamed due to doing the same motion over and over and pinch the nerve in the wrist. This can cause numbness, pain and over time can limit people’s movement in their hands. There are different ways to treat carpal tunnel syndrome and other repetitive motion injuries though.
Types of medical treatment for repetitive motion injuries
Some of the common ways it is treated is through:
- Occupational therapy
- Stretching, strengthening and conditioning exercises
- Hot and cold therapy
- Use of braces or splints
- Changing work habits and motions used to complete job tasks
Depending on how significant the repetitive motion injury is for the worker, they may need to take time off of work to go through rehabilitation. This rehabilitation could involve many different individuals which focus on different aspects of their lives. This can be costly though as the rehabilitation can last for a long period of time.
Workplace injuries in New York can occur in many different ways and cause many different types of injuries. Not all injuries occur due to an accident or impact from an object. Some will develop over time through repetitive motion. These types of injuries can be just as costly as more immediate injuries and people who suffer the injury while at work may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. Experienced attorneys understand the unique qualities of repetitive motion injuries and may be a useful resource.