Three Tips For Preventing Another Repetitive Strain Injury On The Job

After your previous repetitive strain injury, you're probably hoping to do whatever you can to prevent a recurrence of the pain and hassle of juggling paperwork and medical treatments while suffering from an injury. It's especially difficult to complete paperwork if you've injured your wrists (the joints most likely to be affected in repetitive strain cases, unless you play tennis for a living). Besides, workers' compensation doesn't always pay the full amount of your wages for the time you're unable to work, so you could even lose money from such an injury. Here are three ways to prevent the recurrence of this type of injury while working at a job that requires repetitive motions. 

1. Improve posture

Awkward positions add to the strain on your joints, so they tend to exacerbate injuries more easily. Read up on ideal posture for the position you work in, and then implement it and make it a habit. If you work at a computer, this may include obtaining more ergonomic equipment, such as a chair that fits your body better or a keyboard that doesn't allow your wrists to sag.

2. Take breaks and relax

If you spend all day typing at a desk job, you can periodically stand up and stretch your arms, then shake them out. You can do this while waiting for a web page to load, while gathering your thoughts for the next paragraph in a company memo, or while taking a bathroom break. If some other part of your body is under the most strain for your job (such as your elbows, perhaps), make a habit of regularly relaxing that joint instead of requiring it to work constantly for uninterrupted periods of intense strain.

3. Avoid unnecessary force

Some jobs do require force, but in others you may be adding unnecessary strain by performing motions with force that isn't strictly needed. To use typing as an example again, you may be typing more forcefully than necessary if you're excited about what you're writing or simply out of habit. Make sure you have a highly sensitive keyboard, then train yourself to type gently.

Use these tips to help you at your job to prevent a recurrence of your workplace strain injury. No matter what your job is, you can apply these general principles and keep your joints and tendons healthier. And remember that while most workplace injuries are handled through the workers' compensation system, you should always consult with your personal injury attorney because you may be able to sue for personal injury as well.