If you think back, there’s a decent chance that you can remember a time when you had a fall at work. You might have landed on your knee, hands, elbow or shoulder, and you may even have injured yourself. 

The National Safety Council reports that 244,000 workers fell and injured themselves badly enough to require time off of work in 2019. You would probably prefer to avoid joining this group by avoiding a fall onto your shoulder while at work. The good news is that there are steps you can take to meet this goal. 

Physical therapists can help you learn some of the common injuries that a fall onto your shoulder can cause. They can also help you learn steps you can take to treat your fall injuries. Even better, these specialists can educate you on steps you can take to avoid workplace falls. 

What injuries can a fall onto your shoulder cause?

The impact from a fall at work can lead to many different shoulder injuries. Some of the injuries you might develop include: 

• Rotator cuff strains or tears.
• Shoulder dislocations.
• Shoulder separations.
• Clavicle fractures.

Steps you can take to avoid a fall onto your shoulder at work

1. Wear appropriate footwear — There are certain types of footwear that are appropriate for specific workplace conditions. Waiters and kitchen staff are often required to wear non-slip shoes. Construction workers and factory workers could be asked to wear steel-toe or safety-toe boots. Wearing shoes that don’t fit your work conditions can increase your risk of falling and injuring yourself. That’s why you should do your best to wear the correct footwear for your work environment. 

2. Take greater care on ladders or stairs — Climbing from one level to another is a common activity for many workers. Construction workers and painters commonly climb ladders, and office workers may take the stairs to get from one floor to another. Make sure you pay close attention when you’re climbing stairs or ladders, since these activities can easily lead to falls onto your shoulder. It’s also a good idea to make sure ladders are stable and in good repair before climbing them. 

3. Beware of trip hazards — Extension cords running across a build site or a slightly turned-up piece of carpet may not seem dangerous. However, it’s little things like these that can cause you to trip and fall. Make note of any potential trip hazards in your workplace, and be sure to tell your co-workers about them, too. You should also let your manager know about any trip hazards you notice so they can be addressed. 

Find help for injuries caused by a fall onto your shoulder at Continuum Wellness

Have you fallen onto your shoulder at work and injured it? Continuum Wellness has a team of physical therapists who are primed to help you address your injury rapidly. We can do a free screening of your shoulder to pinpoint the shoulder injury you have. In addition, our team excels at building customized physical therapy plans that can reduce pain and help you return to work faster. Our physical therapists can even help you learn how to avoid future work injuries. 

Contact our team today for more information about how we can treat shoulder injuries or to schedule an initial appointment to begin treating your injured shoulder.