Soft tissue injuries are one of the most frequent problems workers face on the job, no matter the industry. These injuries involve damage to muscles, tendons, or ligaments rather than bones. They can happen in a single accident or build up over time.
What makes soft tissue injuries challenging is that they sometimes seem minor at first but can linger for weeks, months, or even become permanent if not treated properly. Knowing what soft tissue injuries are and how they can affect your future helps you respond quickly if you suffer an injury at work.
Common Types of Soft Tissue Injuries
There are several soft tissue injuries that workers often experience on the job. Some of the most common types include:
- Sprains
- Strains
- Tendonitis
- Bursitis
- Contusions (bruises)
- Muscle tears
- Ligament injuries
If you’ve experienced any of these types of injuries as a result of your job, you could be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits.
Common Causes of Soft Tissue Injuries in the Workplace
Soft tissue injuries can happen in just about any work setting. Below are some common reasons these occur:
Repetitive Motion
Doing the same movement over and over, like typing, using tools, or lifting, can strain muscles and tendons, leading to overuse injuries.
Heavy Lifting
Picking up or moving bulky objects, especially without proper technique or help, can result in sprains, strains, or even tears in muscle or ligament tissue.
Slips, Trips, and Falls
Sudden falls often stretch or twist joints and soft tissues in awkward ways, causing bruises, sprains, and other harm. Reach out to our slip and fall lawyers in Los Angeles to learn more.
Awkward Postures
Working in cramped spaces, reaching up, or staying in one position for too long can put extra stress on soft tissues and eventually lead to injury.
Direct Blows or Collisions
Collisions with equipment or other workers can bruise muscles and tendons or cause more serious trauma to soft tissue.
How Soft Tissue Injuries Impact Your Life
Soft tissue injuries can affect just about every part of your life. Here’s how this can happen:
Physical Limitations and Work Performance
These injuries can make basic movements much harder, slowing you down with less strength, poor balance, or limited range of motion. Tasks that were once routine at your job, or even at home, may now seem impossible.
Long-Term Pain and Disability
Pain isn’t always a short-term thing. Lingering aches, tightness, or swelling can drag on for months or years after an injury. For some people, ongoing discomfort can turn into a disability that makes returning to normal work or hobbies feel out of reach.
Emotional and Mental Health Impact
Coping with pain that won’t go away can take a toll emotionally, too. Frustration, anxiety, or feeling down is common when you’re dealing with limits you never had before.
Financial Impact
You might face high doctor bills, therapy costs, or the need for special equipment just to get through your day. Missing work adds to the stress – lost wages and worries about job security can pile on top of the physical and mental impacts.
How to Seek Compensation After a Workplace Injury
If you’ve been hurt on the job, the first step to seeking compensation is usually filing a workers’ compensation claim. This system is designed to cover your medical expenses and a portion of your lost wages after a workplace injury, regardless of who was at fault.
You’ll need to let your employer know about the accident as soon as possible and follow their directions for reporting. In California, the deadline for reporting the injury to your employer is 30 days and it must be done in writing.
Except as provided by sections 5402 and 5403, no claim to recover compensation under this division shall be maintained unless within thirty days after the occurrence of the injury which is claimed to have caused the disability or death, there is served upon the employer notice in writing, signed by the person injured or someone in his behalf, or in case of the death of the person injured, by a dependent or someone in the dependent’s behalf.
Keep careful records of your symptoms, treatment, and any communication with your employer or insurance adjuster. If you’re having trouble with your claim or you just have questions, you can always reach out to a workplace injury lawyer.
If you’ve been forced to take time off work or seek medical treatment as a result of your work injuries, it’s important to speak with a work injury lawyer in Los Angeles to see if you’re entitled to benefits. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.