January Safety Newsletter

How to Prevent Shoulder Injuries

In everyday life, your shoulder gets a real work-out. It moves just about every time you do. You use it for lifting, reaching, or even throwing a ball. You can grab something high or pick something off the ground.

You can do all these things because a healthy shoulder has a great range of motion, and that’s a good thing. But all that movement means there are more ways for you to get hurt. The shoulder is the body’s most injured joint!

Make sure you don’t injure your shoulder on the job.

• Use good posture when you sit or stand.
• Follow the rules for safe lifting. Keep your back straight and use your legs.
• Take a break for a couple of minutes every hour. Move around and stretch.

Don’t strain to reach what you need. 

Use a step stool if you have to reach high places. Put the items you use in drawers or on lower shelves.

Recovery

If you do hurt your shoulder, these things should help you feel better:

• Rest and ice are key. Apply ice every few hours.
• If you can take over-the-counter pain relievers like aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen do so.
• Don’t wear a sling. You want to keep your arm free to move. Just don’t overdo it.