Injuries of Court Reporters: Prevention and Treatment

By: Colleen Jilio-Ryan | Posted in: court reporter

When you think of being a court reporter as a career, you likely don’t think of a job that comes with a lot of physical stress or danger. After all, court reporters are pretty sedentary and they don’t exactly work building high-rise offices or digging ditches. However, there are more injuries that court reporters get than you might think.

In most cases, the injuries that occur on the job for court reporters are those related to repetitive movements and a sedentary lifestyle. If you’re a court reporter or you know somebody that is, use this guide to learn more about the prevention and treatment of the most common health problems that face professionals in the field.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common injury court reporters face because they type and write all day long in order to document what’s happening through the process of a court case. In most cases, court reporters don’t get too many breaks, and may need to work many days in a row during a long trial.

While carpal tunnel requires rest once it is severe, relaxing the hands during work and making sure you avoid unnecessary pressure is essential when typing or writing if you do it for a living. Sitting with a straight posture and taking regular breaks can also help ease pain and reduce the chances of making the problem more severe.

Neck and Back Pain
Neck and back pain are also common problems for court reporters, because most simply sit in a chair throughout the day without much movement. Unfortunately this sedentary work can lead to serious pain.

Standing up and stretching as much as possible can help, as can regular exercise outside of work. Using proper posture in the workplace will also help to prevent pain.