Workers in numerous occupations can struggle with repetitive motions leading to stress and strain on the muscles and joints. These motions can run the gamut from loading a pallet with boxes from a conveyor belt to typing thousands of words a day on your computer. Workers such as massage therapists spend their days relying on their hands and arms to provide treatment for other injured clients. Unfortunately, these repetitive actions can lead to the same types of injuries in the therapist himself or herself.

Repetitive motions can tighten the muscle and restrict circulation. When this occurs, muscle memory is lost and the muscle is unable to go back to a full resting length. This can lead to numbness, tingling, throbbing, aching, swelling and inflammation.

Many massage therapists are abandoning their choice of career after only a few years due to the constant pain. Anecdotally, massage therapists are typically in more pain than the clients who visit their clinic seeking their help. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a repetitive use injury suffered by thousands of massage therapists across the United States. It is not wise to attempt to “work through the pain” or “tough it out.” It is crucial to raise your concerns to a trusted medical professional.

Treatment options for carpal tunnel syndrome vary and can range from stretching and massage to wearing corrective gear and getting surgery. It is always wise to discuss your situation with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney. Workers’ compensation benefits exist for those individuals who were injured while working on the job. A massage therapist suffering with muscle pain due to repetitive stress can certainly track the injury back to his or her career.