Injuries Introduction We are all familiar with the traumatic injury resulting from a single stress to a particular body part. These injuries, such as broken bones, cuts, and bruises, occur instantly. Cumulative injuries, on the other hand, result from repeated stress to a part of the body. Symptoms of such injuriesdiscomfort, numbness, loss of strength, and so ontake a period of time to develop and may go unrecognized or may thought to be something else, such as arthritis. Low back strain, tendonitis, and carpal tunnel syndrome, which results from a compressed nerve in the hand, are common cumulative stress injuries. When Cumulative trauma can occur
Cumulative trauma injuries often occur when
A motion is repeated on the job perhaps thousands of times a day. Excessive force must be used to complete a task. The posture required to do the work is an unnatural one. The environment is extreme or inappropriate in some waysuch as very cold or poorly lighted. Ways to Prevent Cumulative Trauma Injuries
Be aware of the factors that contribute to cumulative stress and reduce
them to the extent that you can by yourself. When you cant make an improvement in your task that will save you from working in the wrong way, let your supervisor know that you believe there may be a problem. In analyzing the hazards of your own job, look first at how you use your hand and wrist. While the hand is capable of a wide range of motions, performing work that requires some force with a bent wrist can led the tendons in the hand to swell. When the tendons enlarge, the nerves in the hand compress. Ultimately, this will cause carpal tunnel syndromea disorder that causes pain, numbness, and an inability to perform many tasks with the hand. When you notice that your wrist is bent in working, try to substitute a neutral motion of the wrist, keeping the wrist in an outstretched or straight position that places less force on nerves and tendons. The elbow is another body part frequently subject to cumulative trauma. Stressful positions of the elbow include rotation of the forearm when the wrist is bent and leaning on your elbows, particularly where the surface is hard. Be aware of such postures and try to do the task in a less stressful way. In the event you must lean on your elbows, put padding on the surface first. The shoulder and neck are often stressed in the course of the workplace routine. Working with arms above your head, working with your elbows above the shoulder level, repeatedly reaching behind your body, working with hunched shoulders, working with a bent neck, or carrying heavy loads on one side of the body can cause repetitive stress injuries to the shoulder and neck. Notice!!! Low back pain, too, may be caused by cumulative trauma injury. Working postures that may hurt the back include: Twisting while lifting instead of keeping your back straight and moving your feet Sitting for long periods of time without good back support Standing for long periods of time without a break Lifting heavy objects from above the shoulders or below the knees. Be aware of how you are working and the effect that posture and force have on your body. Working in a way that reduces stress will result in fewer cumulative trauma injuries. (Information based on Ergonomics, a workbook published by tna Life & Casualty, Hartford, Conn.)