Workers often face significant safety hazards as they’re working, but it’s up to their employer to mitigate those risks. These can occur to just about any part of the body, some of which happen as a result of a single accident, but others occur as a result of cumulative trauma to the area.
The knee is one area of the body that can succumb to both of these forms of injury. This makes it challenging to prevent these injuries, but prevention is imperative.
Why is the knee likely to be injured?
The knee is a complex joint that bears significant weight as a person walks around. It absorbs the impact of every step or jump, which can lead to injuries. Even bending the knee can lead to injuries because of strain on the joint.
Jobs that require frequent kneeling, climbing, squatting or heavy lifting can lead to damage to the joint, which causes structures within it to wear down over time. That damage can result in osteoarthritis later in life, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Knee injuries don’t always fully heal, which can cause chronic pain and inflammation. These sometimes make people change how they stand or walk just so they can avoid discomfort, and it may lead to weakness in the area or start to affect other parts of the body. In some cases, it’s not possible for the person to return to work because of the injury.
Workers who suffer from any injury, including those involving their knees, should be able to count on workers’ compensation to cover the related expenses. These include medical care costs, prescriptions and therapy. In some cases, it may also include partial wage replacement or vocational rehab. Filing for workers’ compensation isn’t always an easy journey. Claims can be denied, so it’s often best to work with someone familiar with these matters so they can assist throughout the process.