One topic that comes up often in my chiropractic practice, especially for those who telecommute or have work-from-home jobs, is whether their injury is covered by L&I.

A person who falls down their stairwell or trips over a throw rug and sprains their ankle could possibly be covered under the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries Workers’ Compensation system.

The main factor L&I considers when deciding if an injury is work-related is where the injury occurs (whether it’s on the home premises or at work), instead of where the employee actually was at the time of injury.

What Are the Causes of Work-Related Neck and Lower Back Pain?

Back and neck pain are often caused by muscle strains. They can also occur when joint dysfunction, disc problems, ligamentous sprains, or other spinal injuries occur. These issues develop in relation to a person’s job duties when it is a work-related issue.

If you are a heavy equipment operator, data entry clerk, cashier or any one of hundreds of more occupations that require repetitive spinal motions, you are at risk for developing a maintenance or breakdown problem requiring chiropractic care to repair and prevent further damage.

Hundreds of occupations require repetitive spinal motions. Those movements can increase the risk of developing a maintenance or breakdown problem that requires the attention of a qualified chiropractor to repair and prevent further issues.

If you treat a work-related injury with chiropractic care, the experience includes evaluating and diagnosing the problem. You’ll want to select someone on an approved examiner list, and no authorization is needed in Washington for transfer or concurrent care to a chiropractor.

How Does Chiropractic Care Treat Work-Related Injuries?

In Washington State, chiropractors manage about one-third of the lower back injuries that happen in occupational settings. It is a qualifying service because the treatment process must be curative and rehabilitative.

The core treatment options through chiropractic care use manual and spinal manipulation to promote healing and provide relief. It’s a high-velocity, short lever arm thrust that gets applied to the affected area.

When this specific pressure occurs on an abnormal area, the goal is to improve functionality while reducing nerve irritability. It is a process that can restore an individual’s range of motion and reduce lower back pain. Another option is called “chiropractic mobilization.” It uses low-velocity movement, manipulation, and stretching to increase an individual’s range of motion in those areas.

Will L&I Pay for My Chiropractic Care?

Although every situation is unique, L&I often pays for proprietary and individual claims for injuries that happen on the job. If you are working from home as part of your regular duties, you’re also typically covered by this care option.

If you have a musculoskeletal issue from a work-related cause, chiropractic care could be a solution to consider. It would be best to quickly seek medical attention after the injury occurs to receive the required care and treatment.

If you’ve been injured at work and are seeking chiropractic treatment in Washington State, we can help with claims.

 

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