All industries pose some type of risk to their workers. Injuries occur in the workplace frequently, and the estimated overall cost of work-related injuries is around $50 billion a year when you take into account lost productivity, medical treatment and lost wages. Healing the injuries quickly is a top priority, and this is one of the reasons to seek chiropractic treatment.
There are numerous benefits of receiving chiropractic care, and at Comprehensive Healthcare Group, we have chiropractors that perform a wide variety of services to help our patients. If someone receives an injury at work, making an appointment with one of our chiropractic professionals is a smart choice.
What a Chiropractor Does
A chiropractor analyzes the spine and joints to see where there is pressure on the nervous system. Because the nerves control everything in the body, when there is pressure, the body does not function as it should. This can cause discomfort, pain, low energy, and illness. A chiropractor locates areas of the spine that have misalignments and uses spinal manipulation techniques to put the spine back in its proper position.
There are numerous techniques that a chiropractor may use, and some are better for specific issues than others. Chiropractic treatments are beneficial for injuries obtained from accidents, on the job, from sports and from performing daily activities.
If an individual is wondering when to see a chiropractor, it never hurts to have a consultation, because often times a problem in the spine occurs before symptoms even show up. A chiropractor is able to detect these areas and treat them before the patient even knows there is an issue.
Causes of Work-Related Injuries
There are various causes of injuries that occur on the job. In some industries, such as construction and manufacturing, there are machines or other risky situations, such as working from heights. Jobs in healthcare, such as for nurses, require working with ill patients, working long hours, and moving patients. Even office jobs, which may seem tame, can cause repetitive injuries.
The most common causes of work-related injuries include overexertion, falls and trips, contact with equipment and transportation incidents. The top occupations in private industry that have the most injuries are:
- Nursing assistants
- Nurses
- Laborers
- Truck drivers
- Personal care aides
- Retail salespeople
- Production workers
- Repair workers
5 Reasons to See a Chiropractor After a Work Injury
No matter what industry someone is in, there is a possibility of an acute or chronic injury. If someone is wondering when to see a chiropractor, it is important to know what the advantages of seeing one are.
1. Get Relief from Musculoskeletal Conditions
Musculoskeletal conditions are the most common types of work-related injuries. Musculoskeletal disorders can affect the muscles, spine, joints, and bones. The average amount of time a worker takes off due to these conditions is eight days, which is more than the majority of nonfatal injuries and illnesses. Acute low back pain and chronic low back pain are common symptoms of lumbar spine injuries.
Symptoms of these types of injuries include pain, stiffness, inflammation, decreased range of motion, and joint deformity. Chiropractors treat a wide variety of issues, but they are well trained in treating conditions related to the spine and muscles.
Many people see a chiropractor for back pain treatment, but there are many other musculoskeletal disorders that chiropractors can treat:
- Neck pain (from cervical spine injuries or whiplash)
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Lower Back Pain
- Disc Herniation
- Arthritis
- Muscle strain and sprain
- Herniated disc
- Degenerative disc disease
- Muscle Spasms
- Spinal misalignment
- Pinched nerve
2. Treat the Cause of the Problem
If someone goes to a medical doctor for a work-related injury, especially a musculoskeletal one, the recommended treatment is often pain medication or an ice pack to help with pain management. Unfortunately, these methods do not fix the real issue of the problem.
A chiropractor performs a specific exam that determines what is causing the injury. The chiropractor is then able to provide a specific adjustment, chiropractic manipulation, or other treatment that helps begin to heal the root cause and provide pain relief. One of the reasons that chiropractic is so effective is that the treatment fixes the issue rather than just covers up the symptoms.
3. Minimal Side Effects
Chiropractic is non-invasive and safe, and most patients will experience minimal or no side effects. Medical treatments, such as medication and surgery, can have detrimental effects, especially if not done correctly. Getting a chiropractic adjustment is easy and comfortable in most situations.
4. Prevent Chronic Conditions
When looking for reasons to see a chiropractor, preventing further issues is another good one. If a work- (or non-work) related injury goes untreated, it only gets worse.
If someone wants to know when to see a chiropractor, it is a good idea as soon as pain shows up. If an individual does not go to a chiropractor for back pain in the early stages, this person will more than likely suffer from chronic back pain. Treating the problem early is important for overall comfort and health.
5. Reduce Overall Costs
Seeing a chiropractor after a work injury reduces costs for multiple parties. If a worker gets in right after the injury, there is a good chance the chiropractor will be able to reduce symptoms fairly quickly, which often means that the employee will miss fewer days of work. If the injury heals quickly, this also reduces the chances that the employee will have to take time off of work for additional medical appointments.
Treatment from a chiropractor will most likely cut down on future healthcare costs because the individual will not have chronic or lingering injuries, which are harder to treat. Seeing a chiropractor for back pain or any other reason is, generally, also less expensive than many other medical treatments and therapies are.
Schedule a Consultation with an NYC Chiropractor
One of the countless reasons to see a chiropractor is to treat injuries obtained on the job. Many of the injuries sustained related to the muscles, joints, and nerves, which are the areas in which a chiropractor receives training. The chiropractors at Comprehensive Healthcare Group have experience dealing with work-related injuries and can recommend an effective treatment plan. Our doctors accept workers’ compensation, no-fault, and other insurance plans.
Schedule a consultation with them today to get back to living your life. Same-day appointments may be available.
Sources:
Facts + Statistics: Workplace Safety/Workers Comp | III
Top Work-Related Injury Causes – Injury Facts (nsc.org)
Musculoskeletal Disorders – Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis (simshospitals.com)
