Even if you feel like your desk job is relatively low-risk, you could still get hurt at work. Everyone faces occupational hazards at all times. However, they aren’t always obvious risks like slip-and-fall, head injury or machine injury hazards. Sometimes, they might take years to develop, and might arise simply from the fact that you do the same thing over and over each day. These are repetitive motion injuries, and they can be just as painful, harmful and inconvenient as any harm you sustain suddenly.

The good news is that workers’ compensation insurance is designed to protect you from the financial ramifications of these hazards. Therefore, if you do suffer a repetitive motion injury, you should not have to worry about how you will afford your recovery costs. Let’s take a closer look.

What is a repetitive motion injury?

When you work, you usually do the same set of tasks over and over, day after day and year after year. However, just like any machine, your body is not immune to breakdowns. Over time, the continued exertion it experiences from a certain task might cause it to wear out. The repetitive motion of continued activity can be a burden that might have its negative effects.

For example, people who spend a lot of their time typing on keyboards could develop arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome or other painful issues in their hands. Someone who works for a moving company will do heavy lifting routinely and might eventually begin to experience chronic back problems. In either case, they might not only experience a lot of pain but also be forced seek medical treatment. They could even sustain a disability that will force them off the job.

In almost any case of repetitive motion injuries, workers’ compensation insurance can come in handy.

How can workers’ compensation help?

If you are sidelined by a repetitive motion injury, then you might qualify for workers’ compensation from your employer. Most employers carry workers’ compensation insurance because the law requires them to provide financial assistance to employees injured on the job. A successful claim will help you receive replacement income, coverage for your medical bills and other expenses.

However, in order to qualify for benefits, you must be able to prove that your repetitive motion injury occurred because of your work. After all, the causes of these injuries might not prove obvious.

As a result, you will need to visit a doctor recommended by your workers’ compensation insurance provider. They will examine your injury, document it, and submit the information to the insurer. The insurer will then follow state workers’ compensation guidelines to determine your eligibility for benefits, and how long you can continue to receive them.