Not all workplace injuries happen in a single dramatic event. Many of the most debilitating workplace injuries develop gradually over weeks, months, or even years of repetitive physical activity. These repetitive stress injuries, also known as repetitive motion injuries or cumulative trauma disorders, affect millions of American workers across all industries and can cause chronic pain, disability, and significant loss of earning capacity.

What Are Repetitive Stress Injuries?

Repetitive stress injuries are a category of injuries caused by the repeated performance of the same physical motions over time. When muscles, tendons, nerves, and joints are subjected to the same forces repeatedly without adequate rest, they can become inflamed, damaged, and painful. Common repetitive stress injuries include:

  • Carpal tunnel syndrome: Caused by compression of the median nerve in the wrist, often resulting from repetitive typing, assembly work, or use of vibrating tools. Symptoms include numbness, tingling, weakness, and pain in the hand and wrist.
  • Tendinitis: Inflammation of a tendon caused by repetitive motion, commonly affecting the wrist, elbow, shoulder, or knee.
  • Tennis elbow and golfer's elbow: Conditions caused by repetitive gripping, twisting, or lifting motions that strain the tendons in the elbow.
  • Rotator cuff injuries: Damage to the muscles and tendons surrounding the shoulder joint, often caused by repetitive overhead reaching or lifting.
  • Bursitis: Inflammation of the bursae, the small fluid-filled sacs that cushion bones, tendons, and muscles near joints.
  • Trigger finger: A condition in which a finger gets stuck in a bent position due to inflammation of the tendons, often caused by repetitive gripping.

Workers at Highest Risk

While repetitive stress injuries can affect workers in virtually any occupation, certain jobs carry a particularly high risk. These include assembly line workers, office workers who spend long hours typing, construction workers, healthcare workers, warehouse and distribution workers, musicians, hair stylists, and meatpacking and food processing workers.

Filing a Workers' Comp Claim for a Repetitive Stress Injury

One of the biggest challenges in repetitive stress injury workers' compensation cases is that there is no single accident or event to point to. The injury develops gradually, which can make it more difficult to establish that it is work-related. Insurance companies frequently deny repetitive stress injury claims, arguing that the condition is due to aging, non-work activities, or a pre-existing condition.

To strengthen your claim, it is important to report the injury to your employer as soon as you notice symptoms, seek medical treatment promptly and tell your doctor about the repetitive activities you perform at work, document the specific tasks and motions that you believe are causing or aggravating your condition, and keep detailed records of your symptoms and how they affect your work and daily life.

Medical Evidence Is Key

In repetitive stress injury cases, strong medical evidence is essential. Your doctor must be able to explain the connection between your work activities and your injury, which often requires a detailed understanding of your job duties, the frequency and duration of the repetitive motions, and the biomechanical forces involved. An experienced workers' compensation attorney can help you identify and work with the right medical experts to build a strong case.

Get Help with Your Claim

If you are suffering from a repetitive stress injury that you believe is related to your work, do not assume that you cannot receive workers' compensation benefits. Contact Dr. Ted Injury Law at (800) 555-HURT for a free consultation about your case.