Occupational injuries, as the term implies, are injuries that may occur during one's occupation. This may result from exposure to chemicals, overstress, repetitious tasks required, wearing of muscles, or accidents. It is alarming that in the United States, about 6,000 people die while 6 million are injured at the workplace each year. Some of the most common occupational injuries are enumerated below.

1. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome – is a repetitive strain condition that is usually a result from constant motion done within a job or activity. This injury happens when repetitious movement irritates and gives pressure to the media nerve, which is located in the carpal tunnel, a narrow passage inside the wrist.

Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include mild numbness, tingling on the palmar surface of the finger, and pain that reverberates towards the shoulder. If not treated immediately, this can affect the wrist, hand, finger movement, grip, and even sleep quality.

Workers who are usually affected with this condition include keyboard operators, encoders, assembly line workers, barbers, drivers, musicians, and workers that utilize vibrating equipment such as chain saws, drills, and jackhammers.

Rest and anti-inflammatory are the common advice of doctors for treatment. For severe cases, surgical procedures such as Arthroscopy or Endoscopic Carpal Tunnel Release may be performed to treat the condition.

1. De Quervain's Tendonitis – is a condition characterized by awkward hand positions or posture. It results from irritation or tendon swelling along the thumb side of the wrist. This condition occurs when the tendon swells and causes pain and tenderness to the thumb side of the wrist. Patients suffering from this condition are advised to refrain from the activity that causes the swelling. Anti-inflammatory medications would also be given.
2. Focal Dystonia Syndrome – is a musculo-tendinous overuse resulting of a single task. Writers and pianists are the usual people who suffer from this condition. This is a result of improper functioning of the basal ganglia, which are deep brain structures responsible for controlling movement. Treatments of this condition include sufficient rest, refrain from the activity causing the condition, physical therapy, oral medications or botulinum toxin injections.
3. Guyon's Canal Syndrome – is similar to the carpal tunnel syndrome but this one has less nerve compression that affects the ulnar nerve passing through a tunnel in the wrist called Guyon's canal. Signs that indicated this condition include numbness of little finger and half of the ring finger. A person would also experience gradual weakening of the muscles. NSAIDs, physical therapy, and refrain from activity causing the pressure are utilized for treatment of this condition.
4. Trigger Finger – also known as Tenosynovitis, is a flicking motion caused by stress placed on the tendons that result in irritation and restriction of the snug tunnel. Stiffness and pain are the common symptoms of this condition. Anti-inflammatory medications are the first line of treatment for ailment. Cortisone treatments are also often used.
5. Other types of occupational injuries include lower back pains, restless leg syndrome, finger amputation, hypovolemia, and leg amputation.

Proper care and preventive measures both from the side of the employer and employee are necessary to avoid the injuries that commonly occur in the workplace.