Most workers are aware that lifting heavy objects with improper form puts them at risk of hurting their backs. What many don’t know is that a person can also develop an elbow injury pretty quickly from lifting, especially if they’re raising things up with their arms extended. Performing the same movement over and over again and gripping things can also cause elbow injuries, for instance, using a manual screwdriver.
Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow are both common conditions developed in the workplace. They both involve damage to the tendons and muscles in the wrist and forearm. Tennis elbow is characterized by pain on the outside of the wrist and elbow, often caused by excessive stress on the wrist extensors (the muscles that extend the hand backward to lift the fingers). With golfer’s elbow, the pain is on the inside of the elbow, caused by strain on the muscles and tendons that control the wrist and fingers. The damage is typically related to repeated stress on the wrist flexor and forearm muscles.
Accidents happen from time to time, but practicing safe lifting techniques every day can help keep them to a minimum. This article describes some common workplace situations that can cause elbow pain from lifting and how you can help your team practice safer lifting techniques.
How can lifting heavy objects cause elbow pain?
Lifting things that are too heavy for one person can cause elbow pain, and improper form is almost always a part of the problem. Anytime a worker lifts something with their arms stretched out in front of them or over their head, they put a lot of strain on their elbows. Relying too much on the wrist and forearm muscles can also result in elbow strain. This often happens when workers have to lift a heavy object in an awkward position or an enclosed space.
People tend to injure themselves on the job when they’re tired and when they’re distracted by other priorities. Building a culture of workplace safety means making safety a top priority and giving your team continual reminders. When a team member is starting to notice pain in their elbows, their back or anywhere else, there shouldn’t be any doubt in their mind that it’s time to take a break and seek appropriate care.
How can I help my employees avoid elbow pain from lifting?
Preventing elbow pain by teaching proper lifting techniques is the best approach. You can make safe lifting a daily expectation by holding training sessions often. Guide your team through some warmup exercises and stretches, and talk through techniques for different lifting scenarios. You should also discuss what good communication sounds like during a team lift. Lead by example when you can, and recognize employees for warming up and lifting safely. Finally, encourage your team members to take frequent breaks, and make ergonomic supports like elbow braces available.
It’s OK to take an NSAID pain reliever for occasional, mild pain and use the RICE method: rest, ice, compression and elevation. But employers like you have workers' compensation insurance for a reason. Your team should know they have access to a physical therapist for rehabilitation and injury prevention. Going to PT at the first sign of elbow pain can help prevent a more serious injury that might take weeks or months to recover from.
Try these tips to help your team avoid elbow pain and recover quickly when injuries happen:
- Encourage warming up and stretching — Warmups should be a part of the everyday routine. In addition to static stretches, your team should be familiar with dynamic or moving exercises that get them using their full range of motion. You might designate a specific warmup area or ask someone to lead a warmup session at the beginning of each shift.
- Teach proper lifting techniques — To lift safely every time, your team needs to understand the techniques they should use. OSHA has some online educational materials that you can use for safety training. In general, individuals should try not to lift more than 50 pounds by themselves. They should aim to hold heavy loads in front of them between the middle of their chest and the middle of their thighs. Maintaining a neutral spine and bending at the knees to lift primarily with the legs are both important for injury prevention. Workers should never bend at the waist when lifting.
- Allow plenty of breaks — There are times when individuals may need to take a break during and between lifts — for instance, when they need to navigate obstacles or carry something heavy for a long distance. It should be expected that team members will need to take breaks. Some may try to “tough it out” to make good time or increase productivity. Reminding them to take breaks often is a good idea.
- Encourage good communication — Speaking of breaks, teammates should know how to communicate effectively during team lifts. This involves planning how they will lift the item and letting each other know when they need to stop. They should also call it out when they’re running into difficulties or need to make an adjustment.
- Make safety a top priority — People often make mistakes when they’re worried about their performance or productivity goals. Your team should know that safety always comes first. If they’re lifting objects that are fragile or expensive, such as a marble countertop, you should also make it clear that they are worth more to you as an employee than the item they’re lifting. If an employee drops something to avoid an injury, let them know they made the right choice.
- Provide access to elbow braces — Dislocating an elbow is very painful, and some people may have known issues with their elbow joints. Find out if your health insurance plan covers ergonomic devices like back braces and elbow braces. Let your team know how they can order them, or provide them on the job site.
- Encourage your team to use their physical therapy benefits — Most health insurance plans cover some physical therapy. You should also have workers' compensation insurance for workplace injuries. Make sure your team is familiar with the assistance that’s available before they need to use it.
How does physical therapy help with workplace injuries?
People with physically demanding jobs have a higher chance of developing both traumatic injuries and overuse injuries that get worse over time. If they go home feeling exhausted every night, they may have less energy to take care of themselves and do things they enjoy in their free time. A full-time career shouldn’t cost someone their health and well-being. It should support a healthy lifestyle with some work-life balance. We think employees like yours are just like pro athletes. At Work-Fit, we provide on-the-job and virtual athletic training to help your team stay well so they’re less likely to get hurt.
Our work is about more than workplace injuries, though that’s an important part of what we do. We also offer a wellness management program that helps your team stay strong and resilient. When you take a more proactive approach to workplace wellness, your team can get more done without sacrificing their health. In addition, we offer ergonomic assessments and injury management. Our virtual injury prevention service makes it fast and easy for your team to get personalized wellness and injury prevention advice during the workday.
Not sure where to start with safety training? We can help with that! Contact our team today for more information about our services and the many ways we can help.
