| Pain is putting a strain on your bottom line! | | | | or use their hands to perform the same task |
| Employees who are suffering from repetitive | | | | repeatedly, for example employees on an |
| motion injuries are not able to work at their | | | | assembly line, haven't been studied as closely. If |
| ultimate performance level, costing you | | | | an employee stands at an assembly line and uses |
| productivity and often medical costs which can | | | | his arm in the same direction over and over, it's |
| lead to disability claims. | | | | likely that he'll have pain in his shoulder. Or if she is |
| You've hired ergonomic experts to change the | | | | sitting all day, her low back, and possibly her |
| computer stations; You've given your employees' | | | | knees, will hurt. Employees who type at a |
| new keyboards; you've tried every type of | | | | computer for hours at a time, or who are doing |
| mouse on the market and spent thousands of | | | | fine-motor movements with their fingers will get |
| dollars on chairs. You've read scores of articles | | | | all the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. |
| describing the two biggest repetitive strain injuries: | | | | The first step to reversing the pain drain is to |
| low back pain and carpal tunnel syndrome - you | | | | watch the movements that employees do |
| could actually repeat the symptoms in your sleep! | | | | repetitively. |
| You've analyzed, prioritized, been reactive and | | | | Why Muscles Cause Pain |
| proactive. You've gone the gamut, and still you're | | | | All muscles originate on a stationary bone ("point |
| employees are in pain! | | | | A"), cross over a joint and then insert onto "point |
| According to the Chronic Pain Association, U.S. | | | | B", a moveable bone. When the muscle contracts |
| companies lose an estimated $90 billion each year | | | | it pulls on the insertion point and the joint moves. |
| to sick time, reduced productivity and direct | | | | However, when a muscle is repeatedly moved in |
| medical and other benefit costs due to chronic | | | | exactly the same direction, often for hours at a |
| pain among employees. Add to this the fact that | | | | time, the fibers actually shorten. This phenomenon |
| it is estimated that stress is costing industry $300 | | | | is called "muscle memory", and it is the key to |
| billion dollars, and pain is stressful, and you can | | | | the pain and lack of range-of-motion that is |
| easily see how pain will undermine the financial | | | | common in repetitive strain injuries. As the |
| base of your business. Employees diagnosed with | | | | muscles shorten they are still attached to points |
| repetitive strain injuries will frequently get onto | | | | "A" and "B", but the tight muscle is putting tension |
| the treadmill of doctor appointments, medications, | | | | on the insertion point and holding the joint in the |
| and various forms of therapy that have less than | | | | bent position. This tension causes pain when the |
| total success. While this is happening you need to | | | | individual tries to move the joint. |
| shift work to other employees, or just let the | | | | A useful analogy is to compare this situation to |
| work pile up. | | | | pulling hair. If you pull your hair at the end, your |
| What's missing? The problem is that even with | | | | head will hurt. However, there isn't anything wrong |
| the most ergonomic workstations, people are still | | | | with your head, and you don't need drugs or |
| doing the same movements over and over. Their | | | | surgery to release the pain. You simply need to |
| muscles get contracted and tied into knots, which | | | | let go of your hair. In the same way, when a |
| puts a severe strain on the insertion points at the | | | | muscle is putting tension on a joint the answer |
| joints. Job-related repetitive strain injuries are | | | | isn't drugs or surgery, it is simply to release the |
| costing industry millions of dollars in lost time and | | | | tension and the pain will disappear. |
| disability claims. As Worker's Compensation fees | | | | The Solution - Plugging the Pain Drain |
| soar, industry is desperately seeking answers to | | | | Once you know which muscles are being used |
| what is causing the repetitive strain injuries that | | | | over and over, the next step is developing a |
| have become rampant. | | | | treatment program to reverse the movement |
| The term "repetitive strain injury" should | | | | and enable to muscle fibers to lengthen. The |
| immediately bring attention to the muscles, but | | | | optimal results are found when the employee |
| why a muscle will cause pain, and how to treat | | | | learns how to continue the treatment on a regular |
| the muscle, has been the missing component in | | | | basis. Since the movement at work is repetitive, |
| the search. Short of having the employee change | | | | the treatment also must be done repetitively. |
| jobs there isn't anything that can help - or is | | | | When an employee knows how to release the |
| there! | | | | tension caused by repetitive strain injuries the |
| Isolating the Muscles that Cause Pain | | | | results are remarkable. Tension is removed from |
| Ample time and money has been spent to review | | | | the joints and pain is quickly eliminated, having a |
| how an individual sits at a desk and types on a | | | | positive impact on both the employees job |
| computer. Posture is always stressed and lumbar | | | | performance and also their daily lives. Morale is |
| supports are added to chairs to help rest the | | | | raised because the employee realizes that |
| back. However, even with the very best of | | | | management cares, and loyalty is increased. |
| posture, and the most advanced equipment, | | | | There are only winners. The employee is able to |
| repetitive strain on the low-back and arm muscles | | | | reverse or prevent pain, the company has a |
| is inevitable. | | | | more productive workforce, and you have found |
| To a lesser degree, employees who sit for hours, | | | | a solution to a costly problem. |