Repetitive stress injuries don’t announce themselves with a dramatic accident. They build quietly—one shift, one scan, one lift, one click at a time—until pain, numbness, weakness, or loss of grip makes work (and life) harder than it should be.
At Percy Law Group, PC, we’ve represented Massachusetts workers whose injuries were dismissed as “just getting older” or blamed on hobbies—when the real cause was the job. Repetitive stress injuries (also called repetitive strain injuries or RSIs) are real workplace injuries under Massachusetts workers’ compensation law, and they deserve real benefits—medical coverage, wage replacement, and, when appropriate, compensation for permanent impairment.
This guide explains how repetitive stress injury claims work in Massachusetts, what steps to take now, how to avoid common insurance traps, and how Percy Law Group, PC, helps injured workers pursue full and fair benefits.
What Counts as a Workplace Repetitive Stress Injury in Massachusetts?
A repetitive stress injury (RSI) is damage caused by repeated motions or sustained strain over time—often weeks, months, or years. Percy Law Group, PC routinely sees conditions like:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Tendonitis (wrist, elbow, shoulder)
- Rotator cuff injuries and shoulder impingement
- Trigger finger/tenosynovitis
- Neck and back strain linked to repetitive bending, lifting, twisting, or prolonged standing
The key legal point: Massachusetts workers’ compensation can cover injuries that arise “out of and in the course of employment,” even if there was no single accident.
Why Repetitive Stress Claims Get Challenged (and How to Beat Those Challenges)
Insurers often fight RSI cases because gradual injuries are easier to dispute. Common arguments include:
- “This is age-related degeneration.”
- “It’s from a pre-existing condition.”
- “It’s from non-work activities.”
- “There’s no single injury date, so the claim isn’t valid.”
The solution is evidence—especially medical documentation that ties your diagnosis to your job duties. Massachusetts law recognizes that the “injury date” in occupational/gradual cases can relate to when you became aware of the connection between your condition and your work, which matters for filing deadlines.
At Percy Law Group, PC, we focus on building a clear, defensible story: what you did at work, how often you did it, what symptoms developed, when you reported them, and how your doctors documented causation.
Common Massachusetts Jobs Where RSIs Happen
Repetitive injuries happen in every industry, but we frequently see them in:
- Healthcare (nurses, CNAs, dental hygienists): lifting, repositioning, repetitive charting
- Warehousing and logistics: scanning, packing, lifting, conveyor work
- Manufacturing: assembly, gripping tools, vibrating equipment
- Food service: chopping, lifting, repetitive wrist motion
- Office and administrative work: heavy keyboard/mouse use, poor ergonomics
- Construction and trades: overhead work, repetitive tool use, vibration exposure
If your job requires repeated motion, forceful gripping, awkward postures, or vibration, you may have a legitimate claim—especially once symptoms begin interfering with work tasks.
What Benefits Are Available for a Massachusetts Repetitive Stress Injury?
Massachusetts workers’ compensation may provide several categories of benefits—often at the same time.
Medical treatment coverage
If your RSI is work-related, the insurer must cover reasonable and necessary medical treatment, which can include doctor visits, imaging, therapy, injections, surgery, and prescriptions.
Important: Massachusetts guidance notes that for your first visit, your employer may send you to a provider of its choice—but after that, you generally have the right to choose your own providers.
Wage replacement (disability) benefits
If your injury keeps you out of work or reduces your hours:
- Temporary Total Incapacity (TT / §34): generally 60% of your gross average weekly wage, up to the state maximum, for up to 156 weeks.
- Temporary Partial Incapacity (TP / §35): partial wage benefits if you can do some work but earn less; Massachusetts guidance notes up to 260 weeks in many situations.
- Permanent and Total Incapacity (PTD / §34A): for workers who are permanently unable to do any kind of work; Massachusetts guidance describes a rate based on wages and notes COLA features.
Permanent impairment / “specific loss” style benefits
Some workers may qualify for benefits related to permanent loss of function—often discussed in Massachusetts as impairment awards (commonly referenced under §36 in practice). Percy Law Group, PC, evaluates whether your medical records support this type of compensation.
Lump-sum settlement considerations
Many workers’ comp claims end in a lump-sum resolution, but settling too early—before your diagnosis stabilizes or future treatment needs are known—can be costly. Percy Law Group, PC, evaluates future care, work restrictions, and long-term wage impact before recommending a settlement strategy.
The Filing Deadline for RSI Claims in Massachusetts (This Is Where People Get Burned)
Repetitive stress injuries often develop slowly—so people wait. That delay can threaten your claim.
Massachusetts guidance explains that (for injuries on or after January 1, 1986) a claim generally must be filed within 4 years from the date you became aware of a connection between your injury/illness and your employment (M.G.L. c. 152, §41).
If you’re wondering, “When did I become aware?”—that’s exactly the kind of issue insurers use to deny claims. Don’t guess. Get guidance early.
Step-by-Step: What to Do If You Suspect a Work-Related Repetitive Stress Injury
Here’s the practical playbook Percy Law Group, PC recommends (and uses) to build strong cases:
1) Report it—clearly and in writing
Even if symptoms come and go, report them as soon as you reasonably can. Include:
- the job tasks causing symptoms (typing, scanning, lifting, tool use)
- when symptoms started
- what body parts are affected
- whether symptoms worsen during work
Written reporting helps prove notice and timeline—two pressure points in RSI claims.
2) Get medical care and tell the doctor it’s work-related
Repetitive stress cases rise and fall on medical documentation. Tell your treating provider:
- what you do for work
- how often you do it
- what makes symptoms worse/better
Massachusetts guidance emphasizes the importance of medical care and documentation in the system overall.
3) Keep a “task log” for 2–3 weeks
This is simple and powerful evidence. Track:
- tasks performed
- duration and repetition rate
- tools used (especially vibrating tools)
- symptom flare-ups
A short log can help your doctor write a stronger causal opinion—and helps your lawyer present a cleaner case narrative.
4) Don’t let the insurance company control your care
Insurance companies may push “their” doctors or use one-time exams to downplay your limitations. Percy Law Group, PC has written about how insurers rely on “independent” medical exams that often favor the insurer’s position—and how workers can challenge those tactics with treating-doctor evidence.
5) If benefits are delayed or denied, consider a formal claim
Massachusetts provides a process through the Department of Industrial Accidents (DIA). The state’s guidance on filing explains the information you need and notes that Form 110 (Employee Claim) is used when you are seeking a proceeding and must bring supporting documentation to conciliation (the first step).
How to Prove Your RSI Claim: The Evidence Insurers Actually Respond To
To win a repetitive stress injury case, you want your evidence to answer one question:
Why is this condition more likely than not caused (or significantly aggravated) by the work you do?
Strong evidence often includes:
- Diagnosis and causal opinion from a treating physician
- Objective testing where appropriate (e.g., EMG/NCV for carpal tunnel)
- Work restrictions and functional limitations
- Task frequency evidence (your log, job description, productivity metrics)
- Consistent reporting timeline (when symptoms started, when you reported them)
- Wage documentation (especially if overtime or multiple jobs apply)
Percy Law Group, PC routinely builds RSI cases around the treating doctor’s documentation—because that’s what the DIA and insurers rely on to evaluate disability and medical necessity.
Carpal Tunnel at Work in Massachusetts: A Common RSI With High Stakes
Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most common repetitive stress injuries we see—especially for workers doing sustained keyboarding, scanning, assembly work, or tool vibration. And it’s also one of the most commonly disputed.
If you’re pursuing carpal tunnel workers’ comp in Massachusetts, expect the insurer to scrutinize:
- whether symptoms are bilateral
- whether you had prior symptoms
- whether non-work factors exist (diabetes, thyroid issues, etc.)
- whether your job involves sustained wrist flexion/extension or vibration exposure
That doesn’t mean you can’t win. It means you need to prove the connection with medical support and accurate job-duty evidence.
Mistakes That Can Reduce (or Destroy) a Repetitive Stress Claim
Percy Law Group, PC sees these avoidable problems all the time:
- Waiting too long to report symptoms
- Downplaying pain to “tough it out” (then the insurer claims it wasn’t serious)
- Gaps in treatment
- Seeing a doctor who doesn’t document work causation
- Returning to full duty too early without restrictions
- Accepting a settlement before future care is understood
If any of these apply to you, it doesn’t mean your case is over—but it does mean you should get advice before you take your next step.
How Percy Law Group, PC, Helps Massachusetts Workers With RSI Claims
Repetitive stress claims require more than filing paperwork. They require strategy.
When you hire Percy Law Group, PC, our workers’ compensation team can help:
- Identify the best evidence to support causation and disability
- Push back when the insurer attempts to control medical care
- Challenge, benefit reductions or terminations tied to insurer exams
- Pursue the correct benefit category and duration under Massachusetts rules
- Prepare and present your claim through the DIA process when necessary
Our firm’s workers’ comp practice emphasizes results and client-focused advocacy, with offices serving communities across the region.
Frequently Asked Questions About Massachusetts Repetitive Stress Injuries
Do I need one specific “accident date” to file workers’ comp for RSI?
Not always. Gradual injuries are recognized, and timing issues often relate to when you became aware of the connection between your condition and your work—especially for filing deadlines.
How long do I have to file?
Massachusetts guidance states many workers must file within 4 years of becoming aware of the work-related connection (M.G.L. c. 152, §41).
Can I choose my own doctor?
Massachusetts guidance indicates your employer may direct your first visit, but you generally have the right to choose your provider after that.
What if the insurer denies my RSI claim?
You may still have options through the DIA dispute process, including filing Form 110 to request a proceeding, with conciliation as an initial step.
Take the Next Step: Protect Your Health, Your Job, and Your Benefits
If you’re experiencing numbness, tingling, weakness, or persistent pain from repetitive work tasks, don’t wait for it to “go away.” In Massachusetts, repetitive stress injuries can qualify for workers’ compensation—but only if you protect the record, meet deadlines, and build the medical proof insurers demand.
Percy Law Group, PC helps Massachusetts workers pursue the medical treatment and wage benefits they’re legally entitled to—without letting the insurance company write the story of your injury.
If you believe you have a Massachusetts repetitive stress injury workers’ compensation claim—or you’re dealing with a denial—contact Percy Law Group, PC to discuss your options and the smartest next move based on your job, your diagnosis, and your timeline.