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What is Cumulative Trauma Disorder?
It is the effect of an acute injury, repetitive
trauma and constant pressure or tension on
nerves, muscles and bones that can cause
pain. This affect is best understood
in the terms of a cycle; a cumulative injury
cycle. This cycle separates cumulative trauma
disorder from other injuries in the workplace.
What conditions are related?
There are several diseases and syndromes that
often are based on cumulative trauma. These
include, but are not limited to: carpal tunnel
syndrome, epicondylitis, bursitis, tenosynovitis,
myofascitis, peripherial nerve entrapment,
thorasic outlet syndrome.
Is it caused by work?
Most literature indicates that a large percentage
of these conditions can be considered to
be work related. The work relatedness is
not a given, and there are many underlying
factors that must be considered before a
specific case is considered work related
and compensable.
What factors constitute the Cumulative
Injury Cycle?
Weak and Tight Tissues: repetitive
effort tends to make muscles tighten. A tight
muscle weakens a weak muscle tightens, and
so forth.
Friction Pressure Tension: Weak and
tight muscles develop friction, if pressure
or tension is also present, inflammation
can occur.
Decreased Circulation = Edema: Increased
forces on the lymphatic tissues decreases
the circulation and causes swelling (edema).
Adhesion-Fibrosis: When you have decreased
circulation there is less oxygen that gets
to the tissues this causes thickening (fibrosis)
and adhesions (sticking together of tissues).
Inflammation: When there is injury,
there is inflammation that progress to the
weak and tense cycle again.
What can be done to prevent it?
Using ice after work and during breaks.
Using an alternation of ice and moist heat
(10 minutes each).
Doing strengthening exercises and stretching.
Avoiding vibratory equipment at home.
Seeing the Occupational Medicine specialist
at the first sign of problems so that they
do not progress.
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