Repetitive motion injuries are the result of cumulative trauma based on making the same motion on a regular basis, over a long period. This can often lead to tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome or tennis elbow, just to name a few examples.
Repetitive stress injuries are a common reason for workers’ compensation claims. A worker on an assembly line may make the same motion hundreds of times every day. A worker who types on a keyboard may develop carpal tunnel syndrome from the constant motion in the fingers and wrists. Eventually, the inflammation leads to chronic pain that may mean the employee can no longer perform the duties of their job.
Documenting these injuries
Repetitive stress injuries are different than many other injuries because there is not a single event that leads to the injury. If a worker falls from a height on a construction site or is struck by a vehicle or a piece of heavy equipment, it is relatively easy to document what happened and how they were injured. But with repetitive motion cases, the injury may have been developing for months or even years.
This means that getting an appropriate diagnosis from a medical professional is very important. They can often conduct scans or tests to identify inflammation, and medical experts can state that the activities performed on the job led to the condition. They can also give a prognosis for recovery, recommend medical treatment such as surgery and provide documentation showing how the injury affects the employee’s performance and what types of medical bills they are going to face moving forward.
Just because there is not a one-time event resulting in an injury, that doesn’t mean employees cannot seek workers’ comp benefits. They may be entitled to compensation for lost wages and medical bills. Those who have suffered repetitive motion injuries should know how to pursue workers’ compensation. That may include responding to an initial denial.
