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5 Common Injuries From Manual Labor
Many people love their manual labor jobs. While the physical exertion can tire you, it’s a well-earned feeling. That is, until it leads to injury.
Injuries due to manual labor are varied. If an injury occurs while on the job or performing job-related duties, it is classified as a workplace injury.
At Advanced Spine and Pain Specialists, we focus on diagnosing and treating work injuries. Beyond the aches and discomforts of manual labor, musculoskeletal injuries can negatively impact your life away from work.
Let’s examine the common injuries associated with manual labor.
Understanding work injuries
On-the-job injuries happen for a variety of reasons, including accidents, falls and trips, or exposure to harmful situations or substances.
Injuries from manual labor usually take the form of non-impact injuries. They are often repetitive strain conditions. Here are five of the most common.
1. Spine injuries
Physical exertion often causes problems in the lower back or neck. These areas of the spine are the most frequent areas for back pain, contributing to one of the most frequent lost-time injury claims.
Injuries can occur from heavy lifting, carrying, pulling, or moving a load in a way that stresses the spinal structure. Specific conditions caused by this type of manual labor include:
- Muscle strain
- Herniated discs
- Nerve compression or irritation, such as pinched nerves or sciatica
Because of the involvement of nerve roots branching from the spinal cord, the symptoms of some back injuries may be felt in the arms, hands, feet, and legs along the affected nerve pathways.
2. Repetitive strain injuries
When your job involves the same patterns of motion over long periods, you may experience a repetitive strain injury (RSI).
Repeating the same movements or body positions throughout the workday can cause tissue and joint problems, usually inflammation and nerve involvement.
Commonly associated with office jobs like keyboarding, RSIs can also occur in manual labor tasks.
3. Shoulder injuries
The shoulders are powerful and flexible but also subject to strain because they bear significant forces when working overhead or away from your body’s core. Muscle strain and joint inflammation are common, as are rotator cuff injuries.
4. Knee injuries
Manual labor commonly requires standing or walking. This can lead to added strain on the knees. Injury can occur from heavy lifting, twisting motions, and sprains or strains of soft tissue.
5. Ankle and foot injuries
While accidents and falls are frequent causes of ankle and foot injury, the demands of manual labor can also affect these body parts.
A soft tissue strain called plantar fasciitis causes foot pain that’s difficult to bypass. It’s common for people who are on their feet all day.
If you’ve experienced a manual labor injury, you may be entitled to compensation for lost time. Visit Dr. Krishna Chunduri and the team at Advanced Spine and Pain Specialists.
Book your consultation and exam at our Garfield Ridge, Chicago office by phone or online today.
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