No matter what type of work you do, you’re always at risk of injury. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that millions of Americans are injured on the job every year. Fortunately, chiropractic treatment is “designed” to address many of the most common injuries, and some uncommon ones, too.
At Easy Reach Chiropractic, Barbara Adonis, DC, and Heather Previll, PT, DPT, provide innovative, compassionate, effective treatments for women and men in Lake Worth and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, who’ve been injured at work. In this post, they review four of the most common workplace injuries, along with the chiropractic treatments that can help.
Many jobs require employees to repeat the same activities over and over again throughout the course of the work day. These activities can quickly lead to joint wear-and-tear, inflammation, and nerve irritation.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is perhaps one of the best known types of repetitive strain injuries, occurring when repetitive motions in your hands and wrists lead to inflammation and nerve compression. Golfer’s elbow and tennis elbow are other fairly common RSIs that follow overuse of the elbows and forearms.
Headaches are one of the most prevalent medical complaints worldwide, and — though it probably isn’t surprising to many people — work factors are a common cause. Many headaches happen as a result of strain on your spine that causes the vertebrae to be thrown out of alignment.
When your spine is misaligned, you can wind up with painful symptoms associated with muscles, nerves, and other supportive components of your spine. Poor posture when standing or sitting at work is a primary reason for work-related headaches, but repetitive activities, using a non supportive chair, or poor workplace ergonomics can all play a role.
Back pain can happen as a result of a direct or indirect impact injury, like a slip and fall. But it can also happen as a result of heavy lifting or repetitive bending. Sitting still or standing in one spot for a long time can also lead to a sore, stiff back, with symptoms that sometimes travel into your shoulders, arms, or legs.
Because your back and spine are quite complex, your injury can involve bones, nerves, muscles, or other connective tissues. Frequently, back pain involves multiple “parts” of your back and spine, requiring a comprehensive plan of care to relieve symptoms and prevent them from recurring.
Like back pain, neck pain can happen as a result of repetitive lifting or reaching for heavy objects. But often, neck pain and stiffness are associated with jobs that require long periods of sitting, especially jobs that require you to use a computer for long periods of time.
Staring at a computer for hours on end means your neck is “locked” in a position for a long period of time. Not surprisingly, these activities lead to neck stiffness, irritation, inflammation, and pain. Jobs like assembly line work that require you to look in one direction for a long time can also lead to neck pain and stiffness.
There’s nothing “good” about work injuries, but there is some good news when it comes to treating them: Chiropractic care offers an array of options that are particularly well-suited to these and other painful conditions related to your job.
Our team starts every treatment with a comprehensive examination to pinpoint the cause of your symptoms, so we can tailor your treatment for maximum relief. Depending on the type of injury you have and the symptoms you’re experiencing, your treatment plan might include:
In addition to in-office treatments, our team suggests lifestyle changes along with changes to your workplace or work routine that can help you avoid injuries in the future.
If you’ve been injured at your workplace, there’s no need to suffer through the pain. Our team can help — and we can help with workers’ compensation claims, too. To find out more, book an appointment online or over the phone with the team at Easy Reach Chiropractic today.
