How Doing Repetitive Motions Can Lead To Overuse And Injury

If you work in construction or have an office job that requires you to sit all day, you’ll probably agree: Doing the same, routine motions throughout the day can often lead to overuse injuries in the workplace, also known as RSIs (repetitive stress injuries). Contrary to what you might think, overuse injuries can happen outside the gym—it might come from sitting in a chair for hours, or lifting heavy boxes, for example.

If you find yourself doing repetitive motions in your line of work, and you’re starting to feel beat down, it’s best to ease up with a few resting breaks in the day and seek preventative care from a chiropractor. However, if you’re already injured, booking that appointment is even more critical, as it’ll help speed recovery and create a proactive regimen to avoid future injuries when on the job.

Here are 5 common RSIs to watch out for.

Back Strains & Sprains

Whether you work in a manual labor job, such as in construction or a moving company, or you’re stuck indoors at an office chair, your back can start to ache, leading to a back sprain RSI. If you’re constantly on your feet, you might need to bend down and pick up boxes or move heavy objects, one after the next.

Contrarily, if you’re in a chair all day, it’s likely your posture isn’t perfect—you might notice yourself hunching over your keyboard. When the back gets tired, it can become injured over time, leading to chronic pain.

Herniated Discs

Discs are soft, spongy tissue material that surrounds the bones of the spine, and when your body is in under chronic stress, these discs can bulge out. If overuse worsens, these disks can even rupture open. Known as a slipped or herniated disc, it can become permanent damage unless immediately treated through chiropractic technique and physical therapy. Plus, the pain can spread to other areas, which can severely impact your quality of life.

Tendinitis

Quite broad, a tendinitis from repetitive stress injury can affect most areas of the body, including the rotator cuff, the hips, and the torso. You’ll experience much swelling and inflammation, and this will create the discomfort, as well as a reduction in normal mobility (making your routine movements even more taxing on the body).

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

If you’re “handsy” on the job, you might be at risk for carpal tunnel syndrome, which directly impacts the wrist and its movement. By putting pressure on the median nerve in the wrist, you might negatively affect its mobility. Symptoms include tingling, numbness, and weakness in the hands. What’s more, if you don’t take immediate action to resolve the injury, it can spread and result in permanent damage in the fingers and hands.

Bursitis

Bursa helps cushion the bones, muscles, and tendons, and when you’re doing the same motions a hundred times a day, it can create inflammation and pain. Bursitis results when there’s swelling and fatigue throughout the body—seeing a chiropractor for a treatment plan can gradually eliminate the inflammation and get the body back to normal. Unless treated, the body will remain chronically inflamed and sore.

The takeaway? Being more careful at work and practicing self-care can help prevent overuse. If you notice any tightness or tension, get checked out immediately to avoid an RSI.