Each year, millions of Americans are injured on the job, often requiring the injured worker to miss at least one day of work. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, injuries from sprains and strains account for more than 40 percent of workplace injuries.
Source Information:
Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Sprains and strains again most common workplace injury." The Editor's Desk. Nov. 20, 2006.
Service Employees International Union Education and Support Fund. "Activity 1: Can nursing home work be hazardous to your health?" Back Facts: A training workbook to prevent back injuries in nursing homes.
According to the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, 80 percent of Americans will suffer from back pain at some point in their lives. In addition, back disorders account for more than 24 percent of all workplace injuries involving days away from work.
One workplace-related injury that people have become more aware of in recent years is carpal tunnel syndrome. This injury occurs when a nerve that runs from the forearm to the hand becomes pressed or squeezed. Most of these injuries occur because of a wrist injury or repetitive motion, which is common in assembly-line work.
A sprain is an injury to a ligament caused by a sudden overstretching. A strain happens when overstretching occurs in the muscle or tendon. The severity of the injury will dictate the type of treatment the patient will need and how long it will take to recover. When such an injury occurs, a trained medical professional can determine the best treatment.
