Workplace injuries can disrupt your daily routine and long-term health, causing pain, limited mobility, and difficulty returning to your favorite activities (not to mention your job). Fortunately, physical therapy offers several techniques for effective treatment of work injuries.
Today, the team at Total Function Physical Therapy wants to examine some common workplace injuries we see at our Colorado Springs clinic and how we can address them.
Four Work Injuries (And Their Treatment Approaches)
1. Repetitive Strain Injuries
Repetitive strain injuries refer to any injury that develops from performing the same motions repeatedly. Nerve compression syndromes (such as carpal tunnel syndrome) and tendinitis (an inflammation of the tendons) are two examples.
Repetitive stress injuries are particularly prevalent in jobs requiring typing, assembly line work, or tool usage. Symptoms typically include the following:
- Pain or aching in the affected area
- Swelling or tenderness
- Numbness or tingling, particularly in the hands or wrists
How Can Physical Therapy Help?
Our team targets the underlying causes of RSIs to help address the injury and prevent it from occurring in the future. Here are some of the treatments we might use:
Manual Therapy
- These hands-on techniques relieve tension and improve circulation in affected tissues.
Stretching and Strengthening Exercises
- Targeted exercises improve flexibility and support weak muscles.
Prevention Tips
- Learn proper movement techniques and other strategies to avoid repetitive strain.
2. Lower Back Injuries
Lower back injuries are common in jobs requiring heavy lifting, prolonged standing, or awkward postures. Muscle strains, herniated discs, and sciatica are frequent culprits. Symptoms may include:
- Sharp or dull pain in the lower back
- Muscle stiffness or spasms
- Pain radiating to the legs
How Can Physical Therapy Help?
Treatment for work injuries involving the lower back focuses on both pain relief and restoring your back’s strength and function. Here’s how we might do it:
Manual Therapy
- Carefully mobilizing the spine helps improve range of motion and boost flow to the area.
Targeted Strengthening
- We’ll focus on building core stability to support the spine.
Postural Education
- Learn proper lifting and standing techniques to reduce strain.
3. Shoulder Injuries
Rotator cuff injuries, impingement syndrome, and bursitis are frequent shoulder issues, especially in occupations involving overhead tasks or repetitive arm movements. Common symptoms include the following:
- Difficulty lifting or rotating the arm
- Pain during movement or rest
- Weakness in the shoulder muscles
How Can Physical Therapy Help?
Physical therapy provides comprehensive care for shoulder injuries. With consistent treatment, we can help reduce your pain and improve your range of motion, enabling a quicker return to work and other activities. Here’s what to expect:
Mobility Work
- Restore mobility and reduce stiffness in the shoulder through active stretches.
Strengthening Programs
- We’ll target the rotator cuff and other muscles that support the shoulder joint.
Functional Training
- We’ll gradually reintroduce you to common workplace tasks.
4. Knee Injuries
Knee injuries, such as ligament tears or patellar tendinitis, often result from jobs involving frequent squatting, kneeling, or carrying heavy loads. Symptoms may include:
- Swelling or stiffness around the knee
- Pain during movement or after prolonged activity
- Instability or difficulty bearing weight
How Can Physical Therapy Help?
We’ll design a treatment plan to stabilize and strengthen the knee. Severe knee injuries (such as an ACL tear) sometimes require surgery, but more minor ones can generally be resolved with physical therapy alone. If you do undergo surgery, we’re here to help with your post-procedure rehab! Either way, here’s what you can expect:
Strength and Mobility Exercises
- We’ll help improve the range of motion in your knee and work to strengthen the surrounding muscles, like the quadriceps and hamstrings, to provide joint support.
Balance Training
- We’ll help improve your balance and gait to minimize falls as you rehabilitate.
Functional Rehabilitation and Injury Prevention
- We can simulate workplace tasks to ensure safe performance.
Get Back to Work with the Right Support
Workplace injuries can have long-lasting effects without proper care. Physical therapy at Total Function Physical Therapy provides a tailored approach to treatment for work injuries, focusing on pain relief, functional restoration, and injury prevention. Schedule an appointment with us today to get started.
Tags: work injury, physical therapy, physical therapist, Total Function Physical Therapy, work injuries
