Minnesota residents in any job field can find themselves injured or ill due to a workplace accident, situation or environment. Workplace injuries can be caused by one-time events or can develop over the course of time. Such is the case with repetitive stress injuries. The Occupational Safety Health Administration website notes that there are more than 100 known types of these injuries that are caused by actions taken at worksites.
While these injuries may seem minor, they can cause people to need time off of work resulting in lost wages, medical expenses and rehabilitation needs. Some injuries are covered by workers’ compensation depending on the situation. WebMD.com notes that three of the most common repetitive stress injuries are tendonitis, tenosynovitis and bursitis.
All three of these injuries involve swelling in areas that are heavily used for the same type of action over and over again. Tendonitis most commonly occurs in shoulders, biceps and elbows but can also appear in knees or other areas where tendons connect muscle to bone. Tenosynovitis is related to tendonitis as it involves the sheath through which tendons are routed. Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most common examples of this injury. Bursitis is the inflammation of any sac that provides cushioning and lubrication in areas known to experience friction such as elbow and knees.
People who have developed any form of workplace injuries or occupational disease should know their rights and be proactive in seeking help. This is an important thing when trying to prevent worsening of a condition.
