Assembly line workers in Minnesota perform difficult work to earn a living. With such demanding tasks, repetitive motion injuries are common.
What are repetitive motion injuries?
Repetitive motion injuries, often called repetitive stress injuries, are neurological injuries that affect a range of muscles, tendons and joints. They can occur in many different types of work, including on assembly lines where workers are required to perform the same motions over and over throughout the day. Areas of the body that can be impacted by repetitive injuries include the hands, wrists, elbows, knees, back, neck, hips, ankles, shoulders and feet.
What are the symptoms of a repetitive motion injury?
When an assembly line worker suffers from a repetitive motion injury, they often experience a range of symptoms. With these injuries, it’s common to file workers’ compensation claims. Depending on the severity of the injury, treatment could range from rest to surgery. Symptoms of repetitive motion injuries might include the following:
- Pain
- Stiffness
- Swelling of the joints in the affected area
- Throbbing
- Tenderness
- Tingling sensations
- Muscle cramping
- Muscle weakness
What are the most common repetitive motion injuries and their treatments?
Tendonitis is one of the most common types of repetitive motion injuries among assembly line workers. It is caused by excess strain on the tendons and causes pain and swelling. However, it’s possible to make a full recovery from tendonitis. Treatment includes anti-inflammatory drugs, steroid injections, icing the affected area, resting and elevating it, a special brace and physical therapy.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is more serious and sometimes requires surgery. This injury is more likely to result in significant time missed from work and workers’ comp claims being filed. Carpal tunnel can develop when tendonitis is not medically treated fast enough. It’s a neurological disorder that requires medical intervention. These are injuries that are commonly sustained while working on an assembly line.