Repetitive Motion Injury at Work: Workers Comp Claims

Repetitive motion injuries, also called repetitive stress injuries or cumulative trauma disorders, develop gradually from performing the same motions repeatedly over weeks, months, or years. These injuries are among the most common workplace injuries, affecting workers in manufacturing, office work, healthcare, construction, and many other industries.

Common Repetitive Motion Injuries

Carpal tunnel syndrome from repetitive hand and wrist motions. Tendinitis in the wrists, elbows, shoulders, or knees. Bursitis from repetitive joint movements. Trigger finger from repetitive gripping. De Quervain's tenosynovitis affecting the thumb and wrist. Epicondylitis or tennis elbow and golfer's elbow. Rotator cuff tendinitis from repetitive overhead motions. Thoracic outlet syndrome from repetitive arm movements.

Average Settlement Amounts

Mild repetitive motion injury with conservative treatment settles for $10,000 to $35,000. Moderate injury requiring extended treatment settles for $25,000 to $75,000. Injury requiring surgery settles for $50,000 to $150,000. Bilateral injury requiring surgery on both sides settles for $75,000 to $200,000. Permanent disability from repetitive motion injury settles for $100,000 to $350,000 or more.

Proving Work-Relatedness

The biggest challenge in repetitive motion injury claims is proving that the condition was caused by your work activities rather than non-work activities or natural aging. To establish work-relatedness, you need documentation of your specific job duties and the repetitive motions involved, medical evidence linking your condition to your work activities, testimony from your treating physician about causation, and evidence that your symptoms developed or worsened during your employment.

Occupations at High Risk

Assembly line workers performing the same motions thousands of times per day. Office workers who type extensively. Healthcare workers who lift and reposition patients. Construction workers using vibrating tools. Cashiers and retail workers scanning items. Meat processing workers performing repetitive cutting motions. Musicians who practice for hours daily.

Treatment Options

Conservative treatment includes rest and activity modification, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, bracing or splinting, ergonomic workplace modifications, and corticosteroid injections.

Surgical treatment may be necessary if conservative measures fail. Common surgeries include carpal tunnel release, tendon repair, and bursectomy. Recovery from surgery typically takes six to twelve weeks.

Employer Obligations

Employers have a duty to provide a safe workplace, which includes addressing ergonomic hazards that can cause repetitive motion injuries. This includes providing ergonomic equipment and workstations, allowing regular breaks from repetitive tasks, rotating workers between different tasks, training workers on proper techniques, and responding to employee complaints about pain or discomfort.

Conclusion

Repetitive motion injury settlements range from $10,000 to $350,000 depending on severity and whether surgery is required. Proving work-relatedness is the key challenge in these claims.

Use our free settlement calculator to estimate what your repetitive motion injury case might be worth.