Hip injuries can derail a career

Workers who have to climb, lift or twist for work are at risk of suffering from hip injuries that can impact every facet of life. Minimizing the chance of this happening is the duty of the employer because the onus of providing a safe work environment falls on them. This doesn’t mean that the workers can be careless as they execute their job duties. They do need to be careful and abide by the protocol set by the employer.

There are many things that can be done to diminish the chance of hip injuries. Harm reduction starts with understanding the common causes.

Repetitive motion injuries

The hip socket is durable and made to withstand normal life tasks, but it does wear down over time. Cartilage cushions the bones from friction as you move about. This can become damaged and thinner as you age. Additionally, the tendons and muscles can suffer from overuse and become stretched and damaged.

Repetitive motion injuries are likely to occur when a person does the same tasks on a daily basis. For example, climbing up and down a ladder all day can lead to this issue.

The problem with repetitive motion injuries is that they don’t appear to be serious at first. You might feel slight pain and soreness, but these symptoms don’t abate with rest. As time progresses, the injury will get worse.

Tendonitis is another injury that can occur to the hip. This is caused by inflammation of the tendons in the hip and is usually caused from overuse. Bursitis is also possible. This occurs when the bursae, or sacs of liquid, become inflamed. Both conditions can require medical care and medication management.

Accidents at work

Some hip injuries are the result of an accident at work, such as falling from a ladder. Being struck in the hip is another possible issue. The ball of the hip can be knocked out of socket by the impact or the bones in the hip might be fractured. These are serious medical issues that require immediate medical care, which might include the need for surgery.

When there is a hip injury from work-related duties, the worker can seek workers’ compensation to cover medical expenses related to the injury. It may also provide some wage replacement benefits for individuals who can’t return to work right away.