Injuries Due to Bending

During an average day on the job, you probably engage in several bending movements. Workers often bend to retrieve an object, to lift a heavy object, or to make a mark on the ground. The act of bending seems harmless enough, until it leads to injury. Bending injuries are some of the most common injuries that occur on the job. These injuries may happen suddenly after bending over to pick up one item, or they may develop over time due to repeated bending. If you have injured yourself from bending on the job, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits.

Bending injuries span the range from mild to very severe. Some of the most common injuries caused by bending on the job include:

1. Back injuries—the back is the part of the body most vulnerable to bending injury. Often, employers fail to teach employees the proper way to lift heavy objects. Other times, the employee feels rushed and lifts an object in haste. Improperly lifting a heavy object can cause serious back injury, particularly to the lower back. Bending to lift even light objects, repeated over a course of time, can cause the same serious back injury. Back injuries are painful and require a substantial amount of recovery time and care. Physical therapy is often necessary, and surgery will sometimes be required.
2. Knee injuries—the knee is an intricate joint that bears the brunt of much straining caused by bending. Knee problems stemming from repeated bending or one time injury while bending can have a debilitating effect on the employee, often requiring surgery, physical therapy, wearing a brace, and the like.
3. Shoulder damage—the shoulders are also heavily involved in the act of lifting, which is so often associated with bending. Shoulder damage can leave the worker in pain and unable to perform physical work tasks.
4. Joint, tendon, and connective tissue injuries—the joints, tendons, and connective tissues are intricately involved in the act of bending and lifting. Bending can cause tendon tears, ACL tears, joint dislocation, inflamed connective tissue, and the like.

In the State of Maine, almost all public and private employers are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. To be eligible for benefits, the employee must demonstrate that his or her injury arouse out of and in the course of employment. In addition, the employee must notify his or her supervisor within 30 days of the injury, and the employee must either require medical attention or miss time from work to qualify for workers’ compensation benefits.

Worker’s compensation benefits for bending injuries can include: payment of all medical bills, including prescriptions and mileage reimbursements; payment for vocational rehabilitation; weekly wage replacement; and more in the event of severe injury or death.

Bending injuries - whether they occur from a single bending incident that lead to immediate injury or as a result of repetitive bending motions - are recognized under the Maine workers’ compensation system. All employees who experience pain from bending should report this to their supervisor as soon as possible and contact a skilled workers’ compensation attorney for help obtaining proper medical treatment and top compensation.

Maine Employee Rights Group recognizes that working people drive Maine’s economy and deserve skilled legal representation when injured on the job. Call us today at 207.874.0905 to schedule an initial consultation at one of our convenient meeting locations.