Workers Compensation and Occupational Overuse Syndrome

It’s clear that a small amount of discomfort may be an unavoidable aspect of many jobs. Whether it’s lifting heavy objects, typing for long periods of time, or just standing on your feet for hours on end, job-related exertion is, for many of us, simply a part of life. But if performing the same repeated movements at work has lead you to experience such symptoms as muscle spasms, strength loss, numbness, or moderate to severe aches and pains, you may have developed a condition known as occupational overuse syndrome.

Also referred to as work-related upper limb disorder, cumulative trauma disorder, or repetitive stress injury, occupational overuse syndrome often affects those required to perform certain physical motions over and over again at work. The condition can affect any worker, but most at risk are those performing tasks that involve repetitive and forceful movements of the arms and sustained awkward postures. These factors can result in an insufficient amount of blood reaching the muscles, tendons, and nerves, which is the main cause of repetitive stress injuries. Warning signs of occupational overuse syndrome can include:

• Pain
• Burning
• Tingling
• Swelling
• Numbness
• Weakness
• Loss of movement

Common injuries resulting from occupational overuse syndrome include carpal tunnel syndrome, rotator cuff tendinitis, and tennis elbow (epicondylitis).

Symptoms of occupational overuse syndrome tend to develop gradually but can progressively worsen without proper treatment. The resulting injuries can prevent you from performing your job and significantly affect your quality of life. You may be entitled to workers' compensation benefits if you've sustained a work-related repetitive stress injury, and our Pennsylvania workers' compensation attorneys are highly experienced at getting our clients the benefits that are rightfully theirs. Contact our firm today with any questions about your workers' compensation claim, or get started on a free claim evaluation.