When you think of injuries related to workers’ compensation benefits, you think of slip-and-falls, caught in-betweens, and more traumaticinjuries. However, you can also receive workers’ compensation benefits from injuries that are caused by doing the same motion for extensive periods of time, also known as repetitive motion injuries. If not provided a safe enough work environment or given a sufficient number of breaks, your employer should be held responsible. In such cases, it is important to consult a workers’ compensation lawyer who can help you understand your rights and seek the benefits you deserve.
What is a repetitive motion injury?
Repetitive motion injuries, sometimes referred to as repetitive stress injuries, are injuries to muscles, nerves, ligaments, or tendons caused by performing the same motion over and over. Injuries and disorders develop from microscopic tears in the tissue that the body is unable to repair as fast as they are being made. These types of injuries make up for more than half of all athletic-related injuries and result in huge losses in terms of cost to the workforce. Repetitive motion injuries can be temporary or permanent.
What are the most common types repetitive motion injuries?
Tendonitis: Tendonitis is an inflammation of the tendon, which is a white fibrous tissue that connects muscle to bone and allows for movement at all joints throughout the human body. Most often, tendonitis affects the shoulder, bicep, and elbow.
Bursitis: Bursitis is inflammation of a bursa sac, a small pouch that is found over an area where friction may develop and serves to cushion the area between tendon and bone. Most bursae are present at birth but can appear in sites of repetitive pressure. Common areas where these occur include the elbow, knee, and hip.
Who is at risk for repetitive motion injuries?
Repetitive motion injuries can be caused by a variety of work conditions. Whether you work on a construction site or in a cubicle at a computer, if your job is not ergonomically well designed, you may be at risk. Call our Philadelphia personal injury attorneys today for a free consultation.