When we think of workplace injuries, we often picture accidents, overexertion, slips and falls—these are the most common ways people are injured on the job. Every 7 seconds, a worker is injured on the job. That translates to 510 per hour, 12,600 a day, 88,500 a week, or 4.6 million every year. In 2017, 104 million production days were lost due to work-related injuries. You don’t have to do physically demanding work to suffer a workplace injury, however. Repetitive motion, stress and poor posture can also be culprits. That means a work-related injury can come from sitting at a computer day after day as well as a mishap on a construction site.
If you are unable to work or are experiencing discomfort from an injury on the job, a Doctor of Chiropractic can often help address the problem without the need for medication, using low-risk procedures.
Which Work-Related Injuries Chiropractors Treat
Many work-related injuries involve your neurological or musculoskeletal system—nerves, muscles, ligaments and joints. With those injuries come discomfort, inflammation and immobility. Chiropractors treat these injuries along with their uncomfortable symptoms, which may include:
- Low back pain
- Neck pain
- Shoulder pain
- Pain or tingling in the wrists and hands
- Knee or hip pain
- Headaches
How Chiropractors Treat Work-Related Injuries
Once we’ve diagnosed your injury, we typically use spinal manipulation to treat you. We apply highly controlled movements, sometimes called adjustments, to maneuver the spine or joints to relieve compression, restore mobility and promote healing. Pain relief may be immediate as we move your body back into alignment. Some people may experience mild and temporary soreness or stiffness after an adjustment, just as you might after beginning an exercise regimen.
In addition to adjustments, ice, heat, low-level laser, electrotherapy or therapeutic ultrasound may be used or recommended, all of which can help address your symptoms. Chiropractors often do a series of treatments to get you back to your daily routine with less pain and improved function. Chiropractors can also recommend exercises that will help your recovery, as well as nutritional and lifestyle counseling for your overall well-being.
How Chiropractors Can Help Prevent Work-Related Injuries
We can also offer guidance to help avoid further injury at work, including these tips:
- Use correct posture: Poor posture increases stress on the neck and back.
- Find ergonomic solutions: Sit in a chair with good support and at a desk that makes objects easy to reach. Wrist supports along with ergonomic keyboard and mouse designs can reduce the risk of carpal tunnel problems.
- Use correct lifting and moving techniques: If your job involves heavy physical activity, know how to safely carry loads and apply force.
- Take breaks: Move your body periodically to relieve stress, no matter what your occupation is. Avoid prolonged sitting in one position.
Research shows that chiropractic can get you back to work faster than other forms of treatment after a job-related injury and make you less likely to miss work in the future. With workplace injuries occurring at the rate of one every seven seconds, chiropractic helps millions of people get back in business each year.