Ergonomically Yours

Archive for February, 2009

Work related injuries of the upper extremities (shoulders, elbows, wrists and hands) are a significant economic burden to many different industries in the United States.

I have spent that last fifteen years treating a variety of upper extremity injuries in my San Diego chiropractic clinic.  From the perspective of a doctor, regarding costs, all I see are the medical expenses – which can get quite high, especially if the patient is concurrently undergoing physical therapy, acupuncture treatments and / or orthopedic management.  Special testing such as nerve conduction tests or MRI exams add substantial additional costs to these types of injuries.

One of the things that I have learned from practice is that patients can not afford to delay care once they realize that they are coming down with symptoms.  Typical upper extremity injuries begin with weakness, numbness or tingling sensations, pain at night and cramping sensations in the neck, shoulder, forearm or hand.  These symptoms typically accompany conditions such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Tennis Elbow, Golfers Elbow, DeQuervain’s Syndrome, Tendonitis and Tenosynovitis.  Delay of care at the onset of symptoms greatly increases the duration of treatment as well as the costs of that care.

Repetitive stress injuries, typically known as cumulative trauma disorders are not only difficult to treat but in many cases are incurable.  Those who come down with one of these conditions may never completely regain motion, strength, sensation or stamina again, regardless of how much treatment the sufferer receives.  In addition to the emotional well being of the patient, the financial costs for these injuries is staggering.

According to OSHA, work related injuries of the upper extremity account for approximately 35% of all lost workdays in the United States.  In 1996, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 647,000 lost days of work directly attributed to upper extremity injuries with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome being the most common.  To put the severity of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome into the proper context, those suffering with this condition miss an average of 30 days of work while those with amputated limbs miss 20 days and those with fractures miss 17 days following their injuries.

Between the days lost at work and the other non-work comp related costs, the medical costs of these injuries is the minor portion of the total injury expenses.  In fact, most experts conclude that the actual medical expenses with these injuries only accounts for somewhere around 25% or less of the total of the expenses related to these injuries.

As with most disorders, the best treatment is prevention.  Early identification of stressful work environments is crucial.  Treatment can be effective, but timely ergonomic evaluations, work stress analysis and job task assessments are of vital importance.  In many cases, minimal alterations to work stations or job duties can be enough to prevent injury, prolonged disability and the expenses that accompany them.

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Here’s To Your Health

Yours Ergonomically,

Dr. Jones

Economic Mouse Pad
San Diego Chiropractic
Pain Relief San Diego Chiropractic

(619) 280-0554

Have you ever wondered how you can develop back pain or neck pain without doing anything like gardening to cause it. It is amazing that humans don’t sustain even more back pain and neck pain, given the structure of our bodies and the physical demands. In my California chiropractic practice, I frequently treat office workers who experience chronic and severe back and neck pain tied to easy-to-fix ergonomic issues in their workspace. In my California chiropractic business, I treat clients frequently who work in an office and could benefit from better ergonomics.
Anyone can experience back or neck pain at any time. I treat individuals regularly who experienced back and neck injuries from improper lifting, machinery usage, sports, falls, and auto accidents. The majority of patients think that chiropractic issues stem from lifting heavy sacks of concrete but are surprised to find that most are due to postural stress.
The “silent killer” of our spinal health is postural stress. Postural stress is experienced either while sitting or standing on one’s feet. Postural stress is felt whenever the natural curve of the spine is altered or if the spine moves past its natural balance point.
One of the various postural stressful positions is sitting at the computer leaning forward with your neck and head while typing or mousing or viewing the screen. Your body is reversed from the typical curve of your neck, as you extend your neck to the front of your body and forces your head forward of the normal balance.
The stability that is part of our structure when our postural boundaries are respected is lost when we assume postures that cause stress to our spines. Stress from the way we hold ourselves (either sitting or standing) opens our ligaments and muscles up to long periods of being stretched (perhaps incorrectly) which leads to muscle fatigue, irritation, inflammation, back and neck pain, and even arthritis over the long run.
To treat neck and back pain caused by postural stress, one must undertake a multifaceted plan. When chiropractic treatment is combined with proper stretching and nutritional supplementation, full and smooth joint motion can replace the pain and stiffness. Depending on the length of time that you have been in pain or the severity of your symptoms, this part of your recovery may take several treatments or a lengthy treatment program.
Chiropractic care alone will not alleviate the problem; you must eliminate or change the causes of the postural stress. Have your workstation analyzed to highlight any ergonomic issues that could cause postural stress. Applying ice packs for neck pain and back pain for around twenty minutes at a time is also sometimes effective for relief.
Start treatment by talking to your chiropractor.
Our Columbus based chiropractic clinic employs a complete approach to rehabilitation using chiropractic care supported by stretches and exercises. Postural stress issues and the related neck and back pain that result from it are best dealt with by chiropractors, who are well trained in that area.
Encouragement of the proper diet is made to facilitate the process of healing. It is just as important to understand and correct the cause of poor posture, which causes pain, as it is to seek treatment to relieve the pain.

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Here’s To Your Health

Yours Ergonomically,

Dr. Jones

Economic Mouse Pad
San Diego Chiropractic
Pain Relief San Diego Chiropractic

(619) 280-0554