Chiropractic Care for Common Work-related Injuries

Chiropractors are doctors who deal with the rehabilitation and healing of skeletal injuries. Some conditions they treat involve work-related injuries that affect the bones or joints in various places in the body. 

Chiropractic care is growing in popularity because of its efficacy in treating skeletal issues and because it is drug-free. It is ideal for work-related injuries because you heal quickly, and you do not have to deal with the side effects of using painkillers. 

Common Work-related Injuries

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) ran a study on the common work-related injuries in the country. They report that, while they are not fatal, at least two million work-related accidents happen annually. Here are the most common of these injuries:

Slip and Fall

According to the study, slip and fall accidents comprise 25% of all work-related accidents in the United States. It is the responsibility of the employer to take steps to avoid accidents in the workplace, but these still do happen. They are common in winter when walking surfaces become more hazardous than usual. 

Slips and falls can range from severe to mild, usually leading to skeletal misalignments that affect your ability to function. Because of this, seeing a chiropractor after a fall is essential, especially if it is from a height. 

Overexertion

Overexertion is another common workplace injury that can severely affect your ability to keep working. It uses excessive physical force to perform a task or lift something too heavy. It is often associated with other injuries like strains or sprains. These injuries affect the skeletal structure. 

Repetitive Motion Injuries

Another common injury from the workplace is RMIs. They often fall under three primary forms: 
 

• Rotator cuff syndrome

• Tennis elbow

• Carpal tunnel syndrome

The primary causes of these injuries include the following: 
 

• Tendon

• Ligament

• Joint

• Spinal disc

• Muscle strain

You could also get back strains from repetitive motions like bending down to lift heavy objects for prolonged periods. These are the most expensive forms of RMI to treat and the most common in the construction industry. 

Chiropractic Care for Work-related Injuries

After suffering an injury at work, you must see a medical physician for an assessment. They will check if you have any internal injuries. Once you confirm they are musculoskeletal, you can go to a chiropractor. Chiropractic care usually involves practices such as: 

Adjustments

This is the core technique of chiropractic care. Mainly, it involves making changes to the affected joints. Chiropractors usually use controlled force to correct misalignments affecting your body functions.

Soft-tissue Therapy

Some injuries that affect your skeletal structure and joints usually impact your muscles and soft tissues. Soft-tissue therapy is a treatment that helps correct any issues that may develop in your muscles and tissues. It releases tension, relieves spasms, and relaxes tight muscles and connective tissues. 

Stretches and Exercises

The chiropractor will also recommend different stretches and exercises you can do at home to help hasten recovery. The exercises also help restore joint mobility and stability and improve the range of motion.

For more on chiropractic care for common work-related injuries, visit Smith Chiropractic at our office in El Paso, Texas. Call (915) 233-3100​​​​​​​ to book an appointment today.