special subjects
Work Related Repetitive Motion Injuries
Treatment of Repetitive Motion Injuries
Rest Pain relievers Physical therapy For tendinitis, corticosteroid or hyaluronic acid injections For bursitis, drainage For a compressed nerve, a splint or brace and possibly corticosteroid injections or surgery Treatment of work-related repetitive motion injury includes resting the affected area. Workers may need to be placed on transitional duty (also known as light duty or modified duty) if their normal job duties cannot be done without the repetitive motion that caused the injury. Depending on the type and severity of the injury, transitional duty may last for weeks to months. If job duties that include the repetitive motion are resumed too early, the injury may recur. Then the worker must return to transitional duty, thus increasing the total time spent in transitional duty. Workers should avoid activities outside of work that worsen their injury. Pain relievers (analgesics) and anti-inflammatory drugs are used as needed. Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) are typically effective for short-term relief of pain caused by repetitive motion injuries, and they speed the resolution of tendinitis and bursitis. Physical Therapy (PT) may benefit workers with repetitive motion injuries and may speed recovery and help workers regain function. For tendinitis, injection of a corticosteroid near the affected tendon, although it can relieve pain in the short term, is not usually recommended because it does not seem to help in the long term and could possibly result in harm. For bursitis, drainage of excess fluid in the affected bursa is sometimes done, with or without corticosteroid injections. The drainage relieves pain and may speed recovery. After drainage, a dressing (such as an elastic bandage) that puts pressure on the bursa may help keep fluid from reaccumulating. For compression of a nerve, using a splint or brace may relieve symptoms. If symptoms are severe or persistent, workers are referred to an orthopedic surgeon for corticosteroid injections and sometimes surgery. Most work-related repetitive motion injuries resolve with rest over a period of weeks. However, compression of a nerve may result in chronic pain. 