April is National Occupational Therapy Month: How to prevent strains and inflammatory or over-use injuries while at work

April is National Occupational Therapy Month...
April is National Occupational Therapy Month. Occupational therapists work in outpatient clinics to assist people in recovery from work-related injuries so that they are able to return to their job requirements and reduce further risk of re-injuring the body. Pictured above is occupational therapy patient Larry Lamborn of Luana receiving hand therapy from occupational therapist Tami Gebel, O.T. Submitted photo.

by Tami Gebel,
Occupational Therapist

 
April is National Occupational Therapy Month. Occupational therapists work in outpatient clinics to assist people in recovery from work-related injuries. Many times careless mistakes lead to injuries, other times injuries occur due to an obscure accident.

When an injury occurs, it often leads to pain, inability to complete all activities (even non-work related activities), time off from work or change in work duties.  Employers do not like work-related injuries because they cause a loss in wages, production and manpower.

The best cure for a work-related injury is complete rest from the activity that caused the injury. Unfortunately, many times this is not possible because people need the financial income that their job provides. For this reason, occupational and physical therapists work with the injured person to overcome and recover from the injury so that he/she is able to return to their job requirements and reduce further risk of re-injuring the body.

Here are some simple techniques to remember while at work to prevent injuries:

1)  Use both hands during tasks, or alternate hand usage.
2)  Avoid prolonged sitting or standing positions; change positions, move and stretch.
3)  Avoid prolonged pinching between the thumb and tips of fingers, especially if a lot of force is used.
4)  Avoid repetitive movements with the hands and arms, such as turning hand palms up and down.
5)  Avoid constant reaching above the head.
6)  When lifting heavy objects, lift using legs and knees instead of bending at the waist.
7)  Push heavy and large objects instead of pull.
8)  When sitting at a computer desk, make sure feet are flat on the floor and the computer screen is eye level.
9) Do not twist at the waist, move  feet when turning around.
10)  Make sure to exercise outside of work; some may feel as though they had a workout while at work, but they need to maintain strength in their whole body.

Anyone with further questions or who may want more information is asked to contact the occupational therapists at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.