Preventing Overuse Hand, Arm, and Shoulder Injuries in EMS

Introduction An EMS provider’s job involves frequent lifting and moving of patients, stretchers, and many other objects. The provider is required to help patients in the act of standing, moving, and transferring on a daily basis. Nearly every provider has experienced having to strain to lift a bariatric patient or overexerting to raise a stretcher when his or her partner is helping someone else. Lifting puts a lot of stress on an EMS provider’s body. Orthopedic specialists often see EMS workers for lifting-related injuries. In 2016, a CDC study found that over 20,000 EMS workers were seen in emergency departments and clinics across the United States for work related injuries. Of those injuries, over 40% were related to lifting and moving and almost 25% involved an upper extremity injury.1 With repeated gripping of the stretchers and frequent lifting, the repetitive motions predestine EMS providers for overuse injuries of the hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder.   Common Pathologies of the Hand, Arm, and Shoulder in EMS The following list of injuries is provided to increase awareness of the typical arm injuries sustained in the workplace.   Trigger Finger Trigger finger is a stenosing tenosynovitis (progressively restrictive disease) affecting the flexor tendons of the fingers. These tendons originate in the forearm and travel along the palmar side of the hand to the fingers. The flexor tendons can become entrapped due to inflammation of the flexor tendon sheath or ...
Source: JEMS Operations - Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Tags: Exclusive Articles Ambulances & Vehicle Ops Operations Source Type: news