Work-related injuries cost American businesses over $160 billion annually and are responsible for millions of lost workdays. Whether you sit at a desk, operate heavy machinery, lift packages, or work on your feet all day, the physical demands of your job can lead to injuries that range from nagging discomfort to debilitating pain. At Kinito Physical Therapy in Oklahoma City, we help workers recover from job-related injuries and develop strategies to prevent them from returning.
Common Work-Related Injuries
The nature of work injuries has shifted dramatically in recent decades. While manual labor injuries remain significant, the rise of desk-based work has created an epidemic of postural and repetitive strain injuries that are just as disabling.
Repetitive strain injuries — carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, and tendinitis — develop from performing the same motions thousands of times per day. Typing, mouse use, assembly line work, and vibrating tool operation are common culprits. Lower back injuries from lifting, bending, and prolonged sitting remain the single most common work injury, accounting for more workers’ compensation claims than any other condition.
Neck and shoulder pain from poor workstation ergonomics, prolonged computer use, and forward-head posture affects millions of office workers. Slip and fall injuries can cause fractures, sprains, and soft tissue damage in any work environment.
How Physical Therapy Addresses Work Injuries
Our approach to work-related injuries goes beyond just treating your symptoms. We identify the specific job demands that caused or contributed to your injury, address the underlying physical deficits, and develop a return-to-work plan that minimizes re-injury risk.
Treatment typically includes manual therapy to restore mobility and reduce pain, progressive strengthening of the muscles needed for your specific job tasks, ergonomic assessment and workplace modification recommendations, body mechanics training for lifting, carrying, and repetitive movements, and a graduated return-to-work program that progressively increases your tolerance for job demands.
Ergonomic Essentials for Desk Workers
If you work at a computer, proper workstation setup can prevent many common injuries. Your monitor should be at eye level, your elbows bent to approximately 90 degrees, and your feet flat on the floor. A lumbar support cushion can help maintain the natural curve of your lower back during long seated hours. Take breaks every 30 to 45 minutes to stand, walk, and stretch.
Do Not Wait to Get Treatment
The biggest mistake workers make is trying to push through pain hoping it will resolve on its own. Early intervention is key — the longer a work injury goes untreated, the more chronic and difficult to resolve it becomes. If your job is causing pain, contact Kinito Physical Therapy or call (405) 633-0783 today.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog post is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
