Repetitive motion or overuse injuries are exactly as they sound and one of the top ways that people get injured at work. When you do one task over and over, all day long, your body develops imbalances. These imbalances, in time, can lead to biomechanical faults and pain patterns. Until these faults are corrected and the body is re-balanced, problems will persist.
Workplace injuries vary greatly in presentation. Many of the injuries or problems we see are either repetitive motion or overuse injuries, or injuries that are traumatic in nature, such as slip and falls.
The type of treatment depends on the type of injury. Overuse or repetitive motion injuries are typically treated with rehabilitation of the muscles and structures most commonly used and abused at work, so as to improve posture and biomechanics associated with the job and prevent future injuries at work. Traumatic injuries are treated more conservatively so as to reduce pain and promote proper healing.
In some cases, it is possible to experience complete resolution or a significant reduction in pain symptoms almost immediately following treatment. However, it is important to understand that most daily aches and pains did not come on overnight. Therefore, it is unlikely that we will be able to identify and correct a deeper underlying problem in only one treatment, which is why we ample time with our patients to create a personalized workplace injury treatment or rehabilitation plan. Remember, at CHIROWORx, we look at the bigger picture, addressing the cause of a problem, not just its effects!
The body is designed to move. Sitting at a desk job all day places a lot of stress on the the spine and other supporting structures. Long periods of time under excessive stress, if left unattended, can lead to long term issues such as chronic pain, joint degeneration, loss of flexability, headaches, and many others.
X-rays are a service that we do perform at our office on an “as needed” basis. In most cases, posture-related pain does not warrant use of imaging. However, if any trauma, radiating symptoms, or unexplainable new pain is experienced, X-ray imaging may be considered after a thorough history and examination is performed.
Very few problems that present to a chiropractic office result in the need for surgical intervention. Remember, we are the people that try to keep you away from drugs and surgery, so we will do all that we can to help you avoid that route. However, in the event such problems requiring additional care do surface, we will take the appropriate steps in making sure you get the care you need, even if that means surgery.
Dr. Barrett is a 2014 graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic, Florida Campus, where he proudly earned his Doctor of Chiropractic degree with Magna Cum Laude honors. During his time at Palmer he spent uncountable hours mastering his craft through learning and practicing many of today’s most popular adjusting techniques, and developing skills and interest in the fields of rehabilitation and soft tissue therapy.