Why Do Your Employees Have Elbow Pain When Lifting Heavy Boxes?

There are many industries that require heavy lifting, from construction to manufacturing. Lifting heavy products or equipment every day can take a toll on the body after a while. It can potentially cause pain that interferes with productivity and can lead to injury. If your employees experience elbow pain while lifting heavy boxes, there are a few possible reasons that could explain it.

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Read on to learn about potential causes for elbow pain while lifting heavy boxes.

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3 possible reasons for elbow pain while lifting heavy boxes

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If an employee is feeling a twinge in their elbow joint while lifting or moving heavy objects, it’s important to learn about the potential reasons behind the pain, to be able to determine the proper way to treat it.

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Here are three potential reasons that your employee is feeling elbow pain while lifting heavy boxes:

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1. Tennis elbow — Lateral epicondylitis, commonly referred to as tennis elbow, occurs when the tendons surrounding the elbow bone have torn or become swollen. The condition can cause pain, stiffness and a weak grip. It’s an overuse injury caused by repetitive motions that overload the tendons.

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2. Trapped/pinched nerves — The tissue surrounding the elbow can put pressure on the nerves, causing nerve entrapment. Pinched nerves can cause pain, tingling and weakness in the arm. Nerve entrapment can actually describe a few conditions that cause elbow pain, such as cubital tunnel syndrome and pronator teres syndrome.

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3. Arthritis — Arthritis can affect any joint in the body, including the elbow. Arthritis inflammation can cause pain while bending or straightening the arm as well as stiffness and reduced range of motion. The two most common types of arthritis that can affect the elbow joint are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

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Work-Fit can provide injury and wellness management for elbow pain while heavy lifting

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When heavy lifting is a big part of your company’s day-to-day tasks, elbow pain can result in reduced productivity and increased risk of an employee sustaining an injury or causing an accident due to their weak grip and reduced mobility. Work-Fit’s injury management and wellness management are here to help.

‍Contact our team today for more information about our services or to learn how we can help keep your employees healthy.