If you use your body for a living—whether it’s swinging a hammer, hauling materials, or running a trimmer—you’ve probably felt that deep, lingering ache from doing the same motions over and over. 

That’s repetitive stress at work. And over time, it leads to real injuries.

Here’s the good news: there are simple, practical changes you can make right now to take better care of your body on the job. 

These aren’t expensive tools or fancy gear—just smarter ways to move, rest, and achieve your work goals.

Use the Right Tool to Protect Your Wrists

Poorly designed tools put your wrists in awkward positions that lead to pain and injury.

• Choose tools with bent or angled handles to keep your wrist straight
• Use longer handles (5.5 inches or more) with cushioned, non-slip grips
• Avoid pinch grips—use a full-hand “power grip” when you can
• Don’t overdo it. The right tool should fit the task and your hand

Switch Hands and Rotate Tasks to Prevent Overload

Repeating the same task for hours overloads your muscles and strains your connective tissues.

• Alternate hands when you can
• Rotate between tasks—cutting, lifting, sweeping—to avoid overusing the same joints
• Take micro-breaks for 30–60 seconds every half hour to stretch, reset, and breathe

Reduce Vibration to Protect Nerves

Vibrating tools (like grinders or trimmers) are rough on your nerves and blood vessels.

• Use tools with vibration-dampening features
• Wear anti-vibration gloves (but not thick ones that reduce grip control)
• Take frequent breaks—muscles and nerves need time to recover

Adjust Machines to Support Your Body

If you’re stuck in a machine for hours, don’t let it wreck your posture.

• Adjust your seat so your feet rest flat and your back is supported
• Keep controls within easy reach—don’t lean, twist, or hunch to operate
• Make sure the machine has good vibration isolation. If not, add a seat pad or vibration-dampening cushion

Stretch and Move With Awareness

Even if you use great tools, you still need to move in ways that don’t promote injury.

• Stay close to your work to avoid overreaching
• Use clamps or vises so your hands aren’t doing all the stabilizing
• Keep your shoulders relaxed and work between chest and waist level when possible
• For overhead work, use long-handled tools to keep arms from overextending

Most Importantly: Don’t Ignore Pain—It’s a Sign

If you’re feeling tingling, numbness, swelling, or pain that’s creeping in and staying put, don’t push through. 

That’s your body warning you that repetitive stress is starting to cause real damage.

Stay strong with chiropractic and ergonomics.

At Golden Chiropractic, our docs have treated a lot of folks with pain from the trades. 

We’ve seen back aches from driving machines, numb hands from overhead wiring, and stiff shoulders from landscaping work. 

Most work injuries don’t happen suddenly—they’ve built up over years.

We help with recovery, but we also teach you how to protect your body going forward.

A little movement coaching, some solid stretches, and the right ergonomic habits can make a huge difference.

Come see us in Aptos. Book online today and let’s keep your body strong for the work you do.