What Are Work-Related Musculoskeletal Injuries?

There is no workplace in Maryland that is entirely free from hazards, and employees at various types of workplaces can sustain musculoskeletal injuries. While these types of injuries can sometimes be relatively minor and the injured employee can heal quickly, some musculoskeletal injuries can be severe and may require many months away from work and significant medical treatment. Although many people have heard of musculoskeletal injuries or disorders, often abbreviated as “MSDs” or described as “ergonomic injuries,” according to the National Safety Council (NSC), not everyone is clear about what these injuries entail.

What are work-related musculoskeletal injuries, how do they happen, and where are they most common? Consider some of the following information from our Maryland workers’ compensation attorneys.

What is a Musculoskeletal Injury or Disorder?

 According to the Cleveland Clinic, musculoskeletal injuries or disorders involve any of the tissues that comprise your musculoskeletal system, including: bones, joints, ligaments, skeletal muscles, and tendons. Depending on the type of MSD, a person can experience bone pain, joint pain, muscle pain, tendon and ligament pain, fatigue, sleep disruptions, and stiffness.

Commonly reported musculoskeletal injuries and disorders occurring in the workplace include but are not limited to the following, according to the National Safety Council:

• Pinched nerves;
• Herniated discs;
• Meniscus tears;
• Sprains and strains;
• Hernias;
• Pain and swelling;
• Numbness;
• Carpal tunnel syndrome;
• Tarsal tunnel syndrome;
• Raynaud’s syndrome; and
• Musculoskeletal diseases or disorders resulting from workplace exposures.

The Cleveland Clinic also identifies bone fractures, bone bruises, muscle bruises, joint dislocations, and torn muscles or tendons as other commonly cited causes of musculoskeletal pain.

Causes of Musculoskeletal Injuries and Disorders in Maryland Workplaces 

What types of accidents result in most musculoskeletal injuries or disorders in the workplace? The NSC cites the following:

• Overexertion;
• Repetitive motions; and
• Repeated vibrations.

When these types of events or incidents occur, the NSC reports that injuries to the back or the trunk area are most common (accounting for more than 40 percent of reported workplace musculoskeletal injuries), while injuries to the upper extremities are also common, especially the shoulders (accounting for about 36 percent of reported musculoskeletal injuries), followed by knee injuries (about 15 percent).

Types of Jobs or Industries Where Musculoskeletal Injuries Occur 

In Maryland, musculoskeletal injuries are reported among employees in a very wide range of industries and professions, including but not limited to the following:

• Health care and hospital work, including nursing;
• Retail work, including cashier and stocking jobs;
• Custodial or cleaning positions;
• Maintenance work;
• Construction work;
• Transportation industry jobs, including driving and loading; and
• Office work.

Contact a Maryland Workers’ Compensation Lawyer 

If you experienced any type of musculoskeletal injury on the job and need assistance seeking workers’ compensation benefits, you should get in touch with an attorney as soon as possible. One of the experienced Maryland workers’ compensation lawyers at the Law Offices of Steinhardt, Siskind and Lieberman, LLC can discuss your case with you today and can help you to take steps to seek and obtain workers’ compensation benefits to cover your medical care and lost wages. Contact us for more information.

Sources:

injuryfacts.nsc.org/work/safety-topics/musculoskeletal-injuries/

my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/musculoskeletal-pain