Work and occupation
Work Injuries in Singapore, by Job
Most work injuries are not accidents. They are the same movement, held or repeated for years, in a body that was never conditioned for it.
Five clinics · Orchard, Tampines, Serangoon, Tanjong Pagar, and Jurong East opening 25 October 2026 · No referral needed
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The list below is not every job in Singapore, and the name we use may not be the name you would use. Tell us what you do and where it hurts, and we will tell you which of these it looks like.
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Grouped by the work that causes them. Twenty kinds of working life, from a hawker stall to a cockpit to an operating theatre.
Hand injuries at work
The hand that was caught, cut or crushed
A blade, a machine, a door, a fall from a ladder. The repair is done in theatre. Whether the hand can grip a tool again is decided in the weeks after, and those are run by our hand therapy team, to your surgeon’s protocol. We can write to your employer about modified duties.
New Fathers & Carrying
Carrying ElbowMedial Epicondylitis / Flexor-Pronator OverloadPain on the inside of the elbow lifting the baby out of the cot with the forearm turned palm-up, and a grip that feels weaker wringing out a cloth. Repeated loaded lifting with the elbow bent and the wrist flexed, dozens of times a day, on tendons that have never worked this pattern before.
Dad's ThumbDe Quervain TenosynovitisPain on the thumb side of the wrist scooping the baby up under the armpits, with a catch lifting a kettle or turning a car key. Thumb-out lifting repeated all day loads the two tendons in the sheath at the wrist faster than they adapt.
Little-Finger-Side Wrist Pain from Supporting a NewbornUlnar-Sided Wrist Pain / TFCC IrritationA deep ache on the little-finger side of the wrist supporting the head during a feed or a bath, and a click pushing up out of a chair. The wrist is held bent toward the little finger under sustained load, which compresses the cartilage complex on that corner.
Car Seat Lifting Back PainLumbar StrainA catch low in the back lifting the capsule seat out at arm's length across the door sill, or bending over the cot rail at 2am. The load is light but the lever is long, and repeated loaded bending and twisting outruns trunk endurance.
Hip Carry PainGluteal TendinopathyAn ache over the bony point on the side of the hip you always carry the toddler on, worst lying on that side at night. Carrying a load on one hip drops the pelvis and compresses the gluteal tendons against the bone underneath.
Night Feed Neck and Upper BackCervicothoracic Postural StrainBurning between the shoulder blades and a stiff neck after an hour of rocking or feeding in a low chair, worse on broken sleep. A sustained head-forward position with no change of load, and it answers to seating and arm support more than to stretching.
Nurses & Healthcare Workers
Patient Transfer Back PainLumbar Strain and Disc-Related PainLow back pain that arrives mid-shift after a run of transfers and boosts up the bed, and bites putting on your shoes the next morning. Repeated loaded bending and twisting with an unpredictable load, often in the last two hours of a shift when trunk endurance is already spent.
Repositioning ShoulderRotator Cuff TendinopathyPain at the outside of the shoulder pulling a patient up the bed or reaching across to reposition, and a dull ache lying on that side at night. The cuff is doing repeated high-force work at the edge of its range with no recovery between calls.
Twelve-Hour Shift Heel PainPlantar Heel PainA sharp point under the heel on the first steps off the bed after a night shift, and a deep ache through the arch by the end of a long day on ward flooring. Standing and walking load on hard floors with little variation, in footwear chosen for infection control rather than cushioning.
Thumb Base Pain from Manual HandlingFirst Carpometacarpal Joint StrainAching at the base of the thumb opening blister packs, drawing up syringes and gripping bed rails, with a weak pinch turning a tap. Repeated high-force pinch through a small joint that carries several times the load applied at the thumb tip.
Documentation NeckCervical Postural StrainA stiff, burning neck from charting at a computer on wheels set at the wrong height for you, worst in the last hour of the shift. Sustained end-range neck flexion or rotation at a workstation that was never adjusted, repeated every shift.
Leg Heaviness and Swelling After Standing ShiftsDependent Lower Limb EdemaAnkles that leave a sock mark by the end of a shift, with heavy, aching calves that ease once your legs are up. Prolonged standing with limited calf muscle pumping slows venous and lymphatic return, and it accumulates across consecutive shifts.
Teachers
Marking NeckCervical Flexion StrainA deep ache at the base of the neck and across the shoulders after two hours marking a stack of scripts flat on the table. The head is held forward and down without support, so the neck extensors work continuously at low level with no break.
Standing and Marking Back PainLumbar Postural StrainLow back pain that builds across a teaching day and is worse after an evening of marking, easing when you walk. Long static standing followed by long static sitting, with the same segments loaded in the same position for hours.
Whiteboard ShoulderSubacromial Pain SyndromePain at the top and outside of the shoulder writing across the upper half of the board, and reaching up to pull down a projector screen. Repeated work above shoulder height with the arm out in front loads the cuff at its least efficient angle.
Handwriting Volume Wrist PainWrist Extensor TendinopathyAching on the back of the wrist and into the forearm during a marking run, worse in the weeks either side of a major paper. Sustained wrist extension holding a pen with a firm grip, thousands of times, concentrated into a short calendar window.
Classroom Standing Foot PainForefoot and Arch OverloadBurning across the ball of the foot and a tired arch by the last period, worse on assembly or duty days. Hard floors, five to six hours upright and footwear with little support add up, and the foot has no chance to unload.
Crouching Knee PainPatellofemoral PainPain at the front of the knee getting down to a primary-school desk and back up again, and a grinding ache after a day of it. Repeated deep knee bend under bodyweight compresses the kneecap against the thigh bone at the end of its range.
Hawker & F&B Work
Wok ShoulderRotator Cuff TendinopathyPain at the outside of the shoulder tossing a loaded wok through a lunch rush, and a dull ache reaching for the top shelf afterward. Repeated forceful pushing and lifting with the arm out from the body, several hundred times a service.
Wok and Ladle WristWrist Extensor TendinopathyAching on the back of the wrist gripping the wok handle and flicking the ladle, and soreness lifting a full stock pot the next morning. Sustained wrist extension under heavy load with a wide grip, held for the whole service.
Stall Restocking Back PainLumbar StrainA catch low in the back bending into an under-counter chiller or lifting a crate of noodles off the floor before opening. Repeated bending and lifting from below knee height in a narrow stall, where there is no room to get close to the load.
Hawker Heel PainPlantar Heel PainA sharp point under the heel on the first steps in the morning and again after the short break between lunch and dinner service. Ten to twelve hours standing on wet concrete in flat rubber footwear, with the plantar tissue loaded the entire time.
Tray and Plate Carrying ElbowLateral EpicondylitisPain on the outside of the elbow carrying a loaded tray flat on the hand, and a grip that gives way lifting a full kettle. Sustained gripping with the wrist held steady against a load is exactly what the wrist extensor tendon on the outer elbow struggles with.
Standing Knee Ache in Stall WorkKnee Load IntoleranceA deep, tired ache around both knees by the end of service, worse stepping over the stall threshold and up the kerb to the carpark. Long static standing with very little movement keeps the joint loaded in one position and the thigh muscles working continuously.
Construction & Trades
Overhead Drilling ShoulderSubacromial Pain SyndromePain at the top of the shoulder drilling into a ceiling slab or pulling cable through a tray overhead, and night pain lying on that side. Holding a weighted tool above shoulder height loads the cuff at its most compressed position for minutes at a time.
Power Tool Hand NumbnessMedian Nerve Compression / Hand-Arm VibrationNumbness and pins and needles in the thumb, index and middle finger that wake you at night, and fingers that go white and clumsy after an hour on the breaker. Sustained grip plus vibration and a bent wrist raise pressure in the tunnel at the wrist and irritate the nerve.
Lifting Back and Leg PainLumbar Radicular PainBack pain that shoots into the buttock and down the leg after lifting rebar or cement bags, worse sitting in the lorry and bending forward. A nerve root in the low back is being irritated, and it behaves differently from a muscle strain because the leg symptom leads.
Tiler's KneePrepatellar Bursitis and Patellofemoral OverloadA swollen, tender pad over the front of the kneecap and pain kneeling on the slab after a day of laying tile. Direct pressure on the bursa in front of the kneecap for hours, combined with repeated deep bend to get up and down.
Hammer and Drill ElbowLateral EpicondylitisPain on the bony point on the outside of the elbow gripping a drill or swinging a hammer, and weakness turning a screwdriver. Forceful repeated grip with the wrist stabilizing against torque loads the extensor tendon at its attachment.
Site Ground Ankle SprainLateral Ligament SprainRolling the ankle stepping off a scaffold plank or onto loose aggregate, with swelling on the outside and an ankle that still feels unreliable on uneven ground weeks later. The ligament heals but the balance and strength that protect it need to be trained back and tested.
Cleaning Work
Mopping and Wiping ShoulderRotator Cuff TendinopathyPain at the outside of the shoulder mopping a long corridor and wiping down high glass, and an ache reaching behind to fasten a bra strap. Repeated arm-forward pushing and pulling at shoulder height for hours, with no rest in the pattern.
Wringing Thumb and WristDe Quervain TenosynovitisPain on the thumb side of the wrist wringing out a cloth and squeezing a spray trigger, with a catch lifting a full pail. Repeated forceful thumb-out gripping and twisting irritates the tendons in the sheath at the wrist.
Low Surface Cleaning Back PainLumbar Flexion StrainLow back pain that builds across a shift of bending to wipe skirting, toilets and under tables, and bites pushing a loaded trolley up a ramp. Hundreds of repeated forward bends with a small load held away from the body.
Kneeling Knee Pain in Cleaning WorkPrepatellar BursitisSwelling and tenderness over the front of the kneecap after kneeling to scrub floors and toilet bases, sore to kneel on and sore to touch. Direct sustained pressure over the bursa in front of the kneecap, day after day.
Scrubbing ElbowLateral EpicondylitisPain on the outside of the elbow scrubbing a stubborn patch and wringing a cloth, with a weak grip picking up a mug the next morning. Sustained grip with the wrist held firm against resistance is the pattern this tendon tolerates least.
Pilots & Cabin Crew
Overhead Bin ShoulderRotator Cuff TendinopathyPain at the outside of the shoulder lifting a passenger bag into the bin and pressing the bin closed down the aisle, and night pain on that side after a turnaround. Repeated overhead lifting of an awkward load from a narrow stance, with the arm forward and out.
Trolley Pushing Back PainLumbar StrainA catch low in the back braking a loaded trolley on an aisle incline, and an ache that sets in across the second half of a long sector. Pushing and restraining a heavy load with the trunk twisted in a space too narrow to square up in.
Flight Deck NeckCervical Postural StrainA stiff, burning neck and upper back on descent after a long sector, worse on the side the headset sits. Hours of near-static seated posture with repeated small head turns to scan instruments, plus asymmetric weight on one side of the head.
Long Haul Ankle and Leg SwellingDependent Lower Limb EdemaAnkles and feet that swell out of your shoes by the end of a long sector, with heavy calves that ease overnight with the legs up. Prolonged sitting with minimal calf pumping in a low-humidity cabin slows venous and lymphatic return.
Service Wrist and Forearm PainWrist Extensor TendinopathyAching through the wrist and forearm pouring from a jug at arm's length and handing trays across two seats, worse on the galley side you always work. Sustained wrist extension holding a weight away from the body, repeated for a whole service.
Seated Sector Hip StiffnessHip Flexor Shortening and Gluteal DeconditioningA tight, blocked feeling in the front of the hip standing up after a long sector, and a deep buttock ache on the walk through the terminal. Hours held in deep hip flexion with the gluteal muscles switched off, then asked to work immediately on landing.
Surgeons & Dentists
Loupe NeckCervical Flexion StrainA deep ache at the base of the neck and between the shoulder blades that sets in around the ninety-minute mark of a case, and is worst on a list day. The head is held flexed and still through loupes or a scope, so the neck extensors hold an isometric load without a single break.
Static Retraction ShoulderRotator Cuff Fatigue and Subacromial PainA burning ache at the outside of the shoulder holding retraction or a handpiece with the elbow away from the body, easing the moment you drop the arm. Sustained low-level abduction is one of the hardest things to ask of the cuff, because there is no movement to bring blood flow back.
Instrument Pinch FingerStenosing Flexor TenosynovitisA finger that catches or snaps as it straightens, stiffest first thing in the morning, in the hand that holds the instrument. Repeated forceful pinch grip thickens the flexor tendon sheath at the base of the finger, so the tendon no longer glides freely.
Fine Grip ElbowLateral EpicondylitisPain on the outside of the elbow after a long list of fine instrument work, and a grip that gives way lifting a coffee cup the next morning. Sustained precision grip with the wrist held rigid loads the extensor tendon at the elbow continuously.
Operating Standing Back PainLumbar Postural StrainLow back stiffness that arrives in the second half of a long case and bites when you finally stand upright, worse on consecutive list days. Static standing with a slight forward lean and weight through one leg keeps the same segments loaded for hours.
Theatre Floor Foot PainForefoot and Arch OverloadBurning across the ball of the foot and a tired arch after a full list, worse in theatre clogs on hard flooring. Long static standing concentrates load through the same part of the foot with no unloading cycle.
Hairdressers & Barbers
Cutting ShoulderSubacromial Pain SyndromeA burning ache at the top and outside of the shoulder holding both arms up at head height through a cut, easing when you lower them. Sustained arm elevation without support compresses the cuff in the same position for the whole appointment.
Scissor ThumbFirst Carpometacarpal Joint OverloadAching at the base of the thumb on the scissor hand, with a weak pinch opening a clip and a grinding feeling turning a jar lid. Thousands of small loaded thumb movements a day through a joint that magnifies whatever force the tip applies.
Blow-Dryer WristWrist Extensor TendinopathyAching on the back of the wrist and forearm holding the dryer up and angled for a long blow-out, worse on a busy Saturday. A weight held away from the body with the wrist extended, for long stretches, several clients in a row.
Cut Line NeckCervical Side-Bend and Rotation StrainA one-sided stiff neck from tilting your head the same way to check the cut line, worst by the end of the day. End-range side bending and rotation held repeatedly, always in the same direction, with no counterbalance.
Basin Back PainLumbar Flexion StrainLow back pain leaning over the wash basin, and a catch straightening up afterward that eases once you walk. Sustained forward bending with the arms out in front, repeated between every client.
Salon Floor Heel PainPlantar Heel PainA sharp point under the heel on the first steps of the morning and again after you sit for lunch, worse on a ten-hour Saturday. Standing almost the entire shift on a hard floor, often in flat, unsupportive shoes.
Tattoo Artists
Long Sitting Back PainThoracolumbar Flexion StrainA deep ache across the low back and mid-back after four hours bent over a calf or a rib piece, worse straightening up at the end. Sustained trunk flexion and rotation held still for hours, with the load carried by tissue rather than by the chair.
Machine Hand Wrist PainWrist Extensor TendinopathyAching on the back of the wrist and into the forearm on the machine hand, building through a long sitting and sore the next morning. Sustained wrist extension holding a vibrating weight in a fixed position, with the forearm working continuously.
Grip and Thumb FatigueIntrinsic Hand Fatigue and First CMC OverloadA hand that cramps and a thumb base that aches by the third hour, with a grip that feels unreliable on fine line work. Continuous low-level pinch and grip through small hand muscles and a thumb joint that never gets to unload.
Head-Down NeckCervical Flexion StrainA burning band at the base of the neck and across the shoulder blades that sets in partway through a detail piece. Close work holds the head flexed and still, so the neck extensors carry an unbroken isometric load.
Stretching Hand ShoulderRotator Cuff FatigueAn ache in the shoulder of the hand that holds the skin taut, felt on the side you are not tattooing with. Sustained low-level holding with the arm away from the body is fatiguing precisely because nothing moves.
Leaning Elbow SwellingOlecranon BursitisA soft, sometimes tender swelling over the bony point of the elbow you rest on the armrest or the table for hours. Repeated direct pressure on the bursa over the tip of the elbow, which responds by filling.
Chefs
Knife Hand Wrist PainWrist Extensor TendinopathyAching on the back of the wrist through a long prep morning of chopping and portioning, and stiff first thing the next day. High-repetition wrist movement under grip load, concentrated into the same two hours every service.
Gripping Finger CatchStenosing Flexor TenosynovitisA finger that clicks or locks as it straightens, worst on waking, in the hand that holds the knife and the pan handle. Repeated forceful gripping thickens the flexor tendon sheath at the base of the finger so the tendon stops gliding cleanly.
Stock Pot Lifting Back PainLumbar StrainA catch low in the back lifting a full stock pot off the range or a case of produce off the floor in the walk-in. A heavy load lifted with the arms in front and no room to bring it close, repeated at the same points of every prep.
Reaching and Plating ShoulderRotator Cuff TendinopathyPain at the outside of the shoulder reaching into a deep pot, plating across a wide pass and pulling trays off a high rack. Repeated reaching at and above shoulder height with a load, through a whole service.
Hand Swelling and Stiffness After a Burn or ScaldPost-Injury Hand Edema and Scar TightnessA hand that stays puffy and stiff weeks after a steam or oil burn, with skin that feels tight and fingers that will not fully make a fist. Swelling and scar tissue limit tendon glide and joint range, and both respond to graded movement and pressure management.
Kitchen Line Heel PainPlantar Heel PainA sharp point under the heel on the first steps in the morning and again after the break between services. Twelve hours standing on a hard, often greasy kitchen floor in flat, safety-rated shoes with little cushioning.
Delivery Riders
Throttle WristWrist Extensor TendinopathyAching on the back of the right wrist and into the forearm after a long block of riding, worse in the last two hours of a shift. The throttle hand holds sustained wrist extension and grip against engine vibration for hours with almost no change of position.
Handlebar Hand NumbnessMedian Nerve Compression / Hand-Arm VibrationNumbness and pins and needles in the thumb, index and middle finger that wake you at night, and a hand that feels clumsy counting change. Sustained grip with a bent wrist plus vibration raises pressure in the tunnel at the wrist and irritates the nerve.
Riding Seat Back PainLumbar Load IntoleranceA low back ache that builds across a ten-hour shift and is worst getting off the bike, plus a catch swinging the thermal box onto the rack. Prolonged seated vibration through a slightly slumped spine, interrupted only by loaded lifts and twists.
Helmet and Bag NeckCervicothoracic Postural StrainA stiff, burning neck and upper back late in a shift, and a dragging ache on the shoulder the delivery bag sits on. Helmet weight held forward through hours of riding, then an asymmetric load carried up flights of stairs.
Stair Climbing Knee PainPatellofemoral PainPain at the front of the knee climbing HDB stairs with a loaded bag when the lift is full, and an ache going down them afterward. Repeated single-leg loading through a bent knee while carrying extra weight raises the force through the kneecap sharply.
Kerb Step Ankle SprainLateral Ligament SprainRolling the ankle stepping off a kerb or a wet ramp in a hurry, with swelling on the outside and an ankle that feels unreliable on turns weeks later. The ligament settles but the balance and strength that protect it need to be trained and tested before it feels dependable.
Security & Standing Work
Guard Post Heel PainPlantar Heel PainA sharp point under the heel on the first steps after a night shift, and a deep arch ache by the last two hours at the post. Standing and slow walking on hard flooring for twelve hours loads the plantar tissue continuously with no unloading cycle.
Static Standing Back PainLumbar Postural StrainLow back stiffness that builds through a shift at a fixed post and eases as soon as you start walking a patrol. Standing still keeps the same spinal segments loaded in the same position, and the muscles holding them never get a change of task.
Standing Leg SwellingDependent Lower Limb EdemaAnkles that leave a sock mark by the end of a shift, with heavy, aching calves that settle overnight with the legs up. Long standing with minimal calf pumping slows venous and lymphatic return, and it builds across consecutive shifts.
Long Standing Knee AcheKnee Load IntoleranceA dull, tired ache around both knees at the end of a shift, worse on the first flight of stairs afterward. Prolonged static standing holds the joint in one position under continuous low load, which the thigh muscles have to keep answering.
Forefoot Burning in BootsMetatarsalgiaA burning, pebble-under-the-sock feeling under the ball of the foot in thin-soled duty boots, worst in the second half of a shift. Bodyweight concentrated onto the metatarsal heads for hours with no cushioning and no change of load.
Patrol Achilles PainMidportion Achilles TendinopathyStiffness and pain in the cord above the heel for the first steps out of bed and at the start of a patrol, easing as you warm up. A change in walking volume or a stiffer boot alters the load rate on the tendon before it has adapted.
Laboratory & Microscope Work
Eyepiece NeckCervical Flexion StrainA deep ache at the base of the neck and between the shoulder blades that arrives within an hour at the microscope and is worst on a long slide-reading day. The head is held forward and still to meet a fixed eyepiece height, so the neck extensors hold one load without a break.
Pipetting ThumbFirst Carpometacarpal Joint and Thenar OverloadAching at the base of the thumb and across the thumb muscle after a long run of plates, with a weak pinch opening a tube afterward. Thousands of repeated thumb presses against spring resistance load a small joint and a small muscle group with no recovery between plates.
Unsupported Bench ShoulderRotator Cuff FatigueA burning ache in the shoulder working with the arm held out over the bench or inside a safety cabinet, easing the moment you rest the elbow. Sustained low-level arm elevation without support fatigues the cuff because nothing ever moves.
Bench Edge Wrist NumbnessMedian Nerve CompressionNumbness and pins and needles in the thumb, index and middle finger at night, and a hand that feels thick after a long bench day. Sustained wrist extension resting on a hard bench edge raises pressure in the tunnel where the nerve passes.
Lab Stool Back PainLumbar Postural StrainLow back ache perched forward on a lab stool to reach the bench, worse standing up after a long sitting. Sitting forward off the back of the stool leaves the trunk muscles holding the spine with no external support for hours.
Gardening
Weeding Back PainLumbar Flexion StrainLow back pain the evening after a long morning bent over a bed, and a catch straightening up from the third or fourth stretch of weeding. Sustained and repeated forward bending, often with a twist to reach, in a single unbroken burst rather than spread over the week.
Kneeling and Squatting Knee PainPatellofemoral Pain and Prepatellar BursitisPain at the front of the knee getting down to plant and back up again, with a tender, puffy pad over the kneecap afterward. Deep knee bend under bodyweight compresses the kneecap at end range, and kneeling presses directly on the bursa in front of it.
Pruning Hand and Thumb PainFirst CMC Joint and Intrinsic OverloadAching at the base of the thumb and across the palm after an afternoon with secateurs, with a grip that feels weak on a tap the next morning. Repeated forceful squeezing through a small thumb joint and the hand's own muscles, hundreds of cuts in one sitting.
Digging and Pruning ElbowLateral EpicondylitisPain on the bony point on the outside of the elbow after digging over a bed or a long pruning stint, and weakness lifting a watering can. Forceful grip with the wrist stabilizing against resistance loads the extensor tendon at its attachment.
Overhead Pruning ShoulderSubacromial Pain SyndromePain at the top of the shoulder holding a hedge trimmer or a pole pruner above head height, and night pain on that side after a weekend of it. A weighted tool held overhead compresses the cuff in its most vulnerable position for minutes at a time.
Photography
Camera Bag Neck and Upper BackCervicothoracic Postural StrainA dragging ache on one side of the neck and shoulder after a full wedding day with the bag on the same shoulder, and a headache that follows it up the back of the head. An asymmetric load carried for hours makes one side of the neck and upper back hold a constant correction.
Long Lens Wrist PainWrist Extensor TendinopathyAching on the back of the wrist and into the forearm supporting a heavy lens through a long shoot, worse in the last hour. A weight held away from the body with the wrist extended, sustained rather than repeated, which tendons tolerate poorly.
Viewfinder ShoulderRotator Cuff Fatigue and Subacromial PainA burning ache at the outside of the shoulder holding the camera up to the eye through a ceremony, easing as soon as you drop it. Sustained arm elevation with a load held forward keeps the cuff working at its least efficient angle with no movement to recover in.
Event Day Back PainLumbar StrainLow back pain that builds across a twelve-hour event of crouching for low angles, standing back up and carrying two bodies and a bag between locations. Repeated loaded squatting and bending with no recovery, on top of a long carry.
Sustained Grip ElbowLateral Elbow TendinopathyPain on the outside of the elbow after a long shoot holding the camera and working the dials, and a weak grip on a door handle the next day. Sustained grip with the wrist held rigid against the weight of the body and lens loads the extensor tendon continuously.
Long Shoot Foot PainForefoot and Arch OverloadBurning across the ball of the foot and a flat, tired arch by the end of an event day, worse on marble or tile venues. Ten hours upright with long static standing between bursts of walking, usually in shoes chosen to look smart.
Traders & Finance
Mouse Wrist and Forearm PainWrist Extensor TendinopathyAching on the back of the wrist and through the forearm on the mouse hand, worst on high-volume days and into the evening. Sustained wrist extension with continuous small movements and a light grip, held for ten hours with very few breaks.
Multi-Monitor NeckCervical Rotation StrainA one-sided stiff neck and a burning band across the shoulder blade from working a screen set off to one side. Thousands of small end-range rotations in the same direction, with the head held there while you read.
Desk-Bound Back PainLumbar Load IntoleranceLow back stiffness that sets in mid-afternoon, is worst standing up at the close and eases on the walk to the MRT. Ten hours seated in near-identical posture loads the same segments continuously, and the trunk muscles lose endurance rather than strength.
Unsupported Mouse Arm ShoulderRotator Cuff FatigueA dull ache in the shoulder and upper arm on the mouse side, felt more at the end of the day than during any one movement. Holding the arm forward and slightly out without forearm support keeps the cuff and upper trapezius working at low level all day.
Night-Waking Hand NumbnessMedian Nerve CompressionNumbness and pins and needles in the thumb, index and middle finger that wake you around 3am and are eased by shaking the hand out. Sustained wrist extension at a keyboard by day and a bent wrist at night raise pressure in the tunnel where the nerve passes.
Lawyers & Long Document Work
Bundle Reading NeckCervical Flexion StrainA deep ache at the base of the neck and across the shoulders after a day reading bundles laid flat on the desk, worst in the week before a hearing. Reading a flat page holds the head forward and down for hours, so the neck extensors carry an unbroken load.
Page Turning Thumb and WristDe Quervain TenosynovitisPain on the thumb side of the wrist turning and flicking through tabbed bundles and holding a highlighter, with a catch lifting a full mug. Repeated thumb-out movement against a light load, thousands of times inside a short deadline window.
Long Drafting Back PainLumbar Load IntoleranceLow back stiffness after a long drafting sitting, worst standing up and easing on the walk down the corridor. Hours in one seated position load the same spinal segments continuously, and the trunk muscles run out of endurance well before strength.
Laptop-Only Setup ShoulderUpper Trapezius and Cuff OverloadA burning ache across the top of the shoulder and into the neck after working off a laptop in chambers or at court all day. A low screen and a low keyboard force the head forward and the shoulders up, and that position is held rather than moved.
Writing Hand CrampIntrinsic Hand FatigueA hand that cramps and aches through the palm after a long stretch of handwritten notes, with fingers that feel stiff afterward. Continuous low-level pinch on a pen through the hand's own small muscles, which fatigue long before the forearm does.
Students & Exam Season
Exam Writing Hand CrampIntrinsic Hand FatigueA hand that cramps and aches through the palm in the last half hour of a three-hour paper, with fingers that feel stiff afterward. Continuous pinch grip on a pen at speed uses the hand's own small muscles, and they fatigue much earlier than the forearm.
Study NeckCervical Flexion StrainA stiff, burning neck and upper back after a long night between notes on the desk and a phone in the lap. The head is held forward and down for hours at a time, and the load is duration rather than weight.
Floor and Bed Study Back PainLumbar Flexion StrainLow back ache after studying cross-legged on the floor or propped up on the bed, worst standing up and easing once you move. Long sittings in a fully rounded position with no support hold the low back at end range for hours.
Typing and Tablet Wrist PainWrist Extensor TendinopathyAching on the back of the wrist through a long assignment push, and soreness holding a tablet up to read. Sustained wrist extension with continuous small movements, concentrated into the few weeks before a deadline.
School Bag ShoulderUpper Trapezius and Cuff OverloadA dragging ache on the shoulder the bag always sits on, with a stiff neck on the same side by the end of the week. A heavy asymmetric load carried daily makes one side hold a constant correction, and the pattern rarely changes sides.
Post-Exam Return to Sport Knee PainPatellofemoral PainPain at the front of the knee in the first week back at CCA training after two months of sitting for exams, worse on stairs the next day. Training volume returns to its old level in one week while the thigh and hip strength that used to manage it has faded.
Warehouse & Logistics
Floor Level Lifting Back and Leg PainLumbar Radicular PainBack pain that runs into the buttock and down the leg after a shift of lifting cartons off the bottom pallet, worse sitting and bending forward. A nerve root in the low back is being irritated, which is why the leg symptom leads and a simple muscle strain does not explain it.
High Rack Stacking ShoulderRotator Cuff TendinopathyPain at the outside of the shoulder lifting cartons above shoulder height onto a rack, and night pain lying on that side. Repeated overhead lifting of an awkward load is the single hardest demand you can place on the cuff.
Carton Grip Finger CatchStenosing Flexor TenosynovitisA finger that clicks or locks as it straightens, stiffest first thing in the morning, in the hand that hooks under carton edges all day. Repeated forceful gripping thickens the flexor tendon sheath at the base of the finger so the tendon no longer glides freely.
Pallet Jack and Forklift Wrist PainWrist Extensor TendinopathyAching on the back of the wrist and forearm after a shift pushing a loaded jack and holding a vibrating steering control. Sustained grip with the wrist extended against resistance and vibration, with very little change of position.
Truck Step Knee PainPatellofemoral PainPain at the front of the knee climbing in and out of the truck bed dozens of times a shift, and an ache going down stairs afterward. Repeated single-leg loading through a bent knee, often while carrying, raises the force through the kneecap sharply.
Pallet Edge Ankle SprainLateral Ligament SprainRolling the ankle stepping on a pallet edge or off a loading dock, with swelling on the outside and an ankle that still feels unreliable on quick turns weeks later. The ligament settles on its own timeline, but the balance and strength that protect it have to be trained back and tested.
Tell us what you do all day
Describe the job, the position you hold for longest, and when the pain shows up. We will tell you which therapist treats it most often and which clinic they are at. Every first visit is one 45-minute Assessment & Treatment at $230, nett, no GST.
Typical presentations only, not a diagnosis. Anything new, severe, or not settling should be reviewed by a doctor. Clinical content on this page was reviewed by Louise Yow, Principal Physiotherapist & Director, on 6 October 2026.
More jobs, and the injuries they cause
Eight more kinds of work: what each one loads, and every injury we see from it, linked to the page that covers it in full.
We also keep full guides for office syndrome, musicians, drivers and delivery riders and construction and trade work, each listing every injury by body part.
Chefs and cooks
A kitchen loads the hands first. The knife hand grips for hours, the wok hand tosses and ladles with the thumb spread, and one slip of the blade can cut a tendon or a nerve in a finger. Behind that sit the long shifts on a wet, hard floor and the stock pots lifted up to a high shelf.
| Where | Injury | How kitchen work usually causes it |
|---|---|---|
| Hand and finger | Cut flexor tendon (flexor tendon laceration) | A knife slipping across the palm side of the fingers |
| Hand and finger | Cut finger nerve (digital nerve laceration) | A knife cut to the side of a finger |
| Hand and finger | Cut extensor tendon (extensor tendon laceration) | A knife or broken glass across the back of the hand |
| Hand and finger | Trigger finger | Gripping the knife handle |
| Thumb | Thumb base pain (CMC joint) | Tossing the wok and ladling |
| Wrist | De Quervain’s tenosynovitis, on the thumb side | Wok tossing, ladling and chopping |
| Wrist | Carpal tunnel syndrome | Repetitive chopping |
| Wrist | Wrist tendon pain (tendinopathy) | Chopping volume through a prep shift |
| Wrist | TFCC tear, on the little-finger side | Tossing a wok with the wrist bent toward the little finger |
| Wrist | Wrist fracture (distal radius) | A slip and fall on a wet floor |
| Elbow | Tennis elbow, on the outer elbow | Heavy pans and chopping |
| Shoulder | Rotator cuff tendon pain | Lifting stock pots onto high shelves |
| Lower back | Low back strain | Lifting, and long shifts on your feet |
| Ankle | Rolled ankle (lateral ankle sprain) | A slip on a wet floor |
| Foot | Heel pain (plantar fasciitis) | Standing on hard kitchen floors |
Cleaners
Cleaning is gripping, wringing and bending, all day, at someone else’s pace. The thumb and wrist do the wringing and the spray bottle, the shoulders do the wiping and the overhead reach, and the back and knees do the mopping, the buckets and the scrubbing on the floor.
| Where | Injury | How cleaning work usually causes it |
|---|---|---|
| Hand and finger | Trigger finger | Squeezing a spray-bottle trigger |
| Thumb | Thumb base pain (CMC joint) | Wringing cloths and mops |
| Wrist | De Quervain’s tenosynovitis, on the thumb side | Wringing cloths |
| Wrist | Carpal tunnel syndrome | Repetitive gripping |
| Wrist | Repetitive strain injury (RSI) | Hours of scrubbing |
| Wrist | Wrist fracture (distal radius) | A fall on a wet floor |
| Elbow | Tennis elbow, on the outer elbow | Wringing and scrubbing |
| Shoulder | Rotator cuff tendon pain | Mopping, wiping and vacuuming |
| Shoulder | Shoulder impingement | Reaching overhead to clean |
| Neck | Neck strain | Looking up and down while cleaning |
| Lower back | Low back strain | Bending, mopping and lifting buckets |
| Knee | Swelling over the kneecap (prepatellar bursitis) | Kneeling to scrub floors |
| Knee | Meniscus tear | Squatting and turning |
| Knee | Knee arthritis flare | Kneeling and squatting |
| Ankle | Rolled ankle (lateral ankle sprain) | A slip on a wet floor |
Dentists and surgeons
Dentistry and surgery are precision work, held still. The neck bends over loupes or a microscope, the arms hover away from the body, and the thumb and fingers pinch an instrument until the last case of the day. Neck and back pain are common in dentists, and neck, shoulder and back pain in surgeons (Hayes, Cockrell and Smith, International Journal of Dental Hygiene, 2009; Epstein and colleagues, JAMA Surgery, 2018).
| Where | Injury | How dental and surgical work usually causes it |
|---|---|---|
| Thumb | Thumb base pain (CMC joint) | Laparoscopic handles and dental scalers |
| Hand and finger | Trigger finger | Gripping laparoscopic instruments |
| Wrist | Carpal tunnel syndrome | Precision pinch held for hours |
| Wrist | De Quervain’s tenosynovitis, on the thumb side | Instrument grip |
| Elbow | Tennis elbow, on the outer elbow | Instrument grip |
| Elbow | Cubital tunnel syndrome (ulnar nerve at the elbow) | Elbows held bent through a long list |
| Shoulder | Rotator cuff tendon pain | Arms held away from the body with instruments |
| Neck | Neck pain from posture | The neck bent over loupes or a microscope |
| Neck | Pinched nerve in the neck (cervical radiculopathy) | Hours of sustained neck bending |
| Neck | Slipped disc in the neck | Hours of sustained neck bending |
| Head and neck | Headache from the neck (cervicogenic headache) | Holding the same posture for hours |
| Neck | Levator scapulae strain | Shoulders held raised |
| Upper back | Pain between the shoulder blades | Leaning over the patient |
| Lower back | Low back strain | Standing still and leaning over the table |
| Foot | Heel pain (plantar fasciitis) | Standing through long operating lists |
Fitness instructors
Teach three classes in a day and you have done three classes. The same jumps, lunges, planks and burpees, demonstrated on a hard studio floor, with little time between one class and the next. The load adds up in the knees, the Achilles, the feet and the pelvic floor.
| Where | Injury | How teaching fitness usually causes it |
|---|---|---|
| Wrist | Pain on the back of the wrist (dorsal impingement) | Demonstrating planks and burpees |
| Shoulder | Rotator cuff tendon pain | Overhead demonstrations |
| Lower back | Low back strain | Demonstrating all day |
| Lower back | Low back pain from lifting | Coaching and demonstrating strength work |
| Hip | Outer hip pain (gluteal tendinopathy) | Step classes |
| Hip | Hip flexor strain (iliopsoas) | Kicking and core classes |
| Pelvic floor | Leaking under load | High-impact classes |
| Knee | Kneecap pain (patellofemoral pain) | Demonstrating squats and lunges |
| Knee | Patellar tendon pain (jumper’s knee) | Jumping classes |
| Calf | Achilles tendon pain (tendinopathy) | Jumping classes |
| Lower leg | Shin splints (medial tibial stress syndrome) | High-impact work on hard floors |
| Ankle | Rolled ankle (lateral ankle sprain) | Side-to-side moves |
| Foot | Heel pain (plantar fasciitis) | The number of high-impact classes in a week |
| Foot | Metatarsal stress fracture | Jumping classes |
Hairdressers
Hairdressing holds the arms up and the head down. Cutting and blow-drying keep the shoulders raised for most of a shift, the scissor thumb opens and closes with every cut, and the neck bends to see the back of the client’s head, while the feet stand through all of it.
| Where | Injury | How hairdressing usually causes it |
|---|---|---|
| Hand and finger | Trigger finger or trigger thumb | The scissor grip |
| Thumb | Thumb base pain (CMC joint) | Opening and closing the scissors with the thumb |
| Wrist | Carpal tunnel syndrome | Bending the wrist to cut, over and over |
| Wrist | De Quervain’s tenosynovitis, on the thumb side | The scissor thumb |
| Wrist | Repetitive strain injury (RSI) | Cutting volume |
| Elbow | Tennis elbow, on the outer elbow | Gripping the blow-dryer |
| Elbow | Golfer’s elbow, on the inner elbow | The scissor action |
| Shoulder | Rotator cuff tendon pain | Arms held up while cutting and blow-drying |
| Shoulder | Shoulder impingement | Working with the arms above shoulder height |
| Neck | Neck pain from posture | Looking down at the client’s head |
| Neck | Levator scapulae strain | Shoulders held raised |
| Lower back | Low back strain | Standing and leaning over the chair |
| Foot | Heel pain (plantar fasciitis) | Standing all day |
Healthcare workers and nurses
Nursing means lifting people who often cannot help you lift them. Transfers, repositioning and bending over a bed set at the wrong height load the lower back and neck, and a long shift on a hard ward floor loads the feet. Low back, neck and shoulder problems are common in nurses (Davis and Kotowski, Human Factors, 2015).
| Where | Injury | How nursing and healthcare work usually causes it |
|---|---|---|
| Thumb | Thumb base pain (CMC joint) | Repeated pinching |
| Hand and finger | Trigger finger | Gripping |
| Wrist | De Quervain’s tenosynovitis, on the thumb side | Repeated thumb work on syringes and IV caps |
| Wrist | Carpal tunnel syndrome | Repeated pinching |
| Shoulder | Rotator cuff tendon pain | Reaching, and handling patients |
| Neck | Neck strain | Bending over beds |
| Upper back | Pain between the shoulder blades | Charting, and bedside posture |
| Lower back | Low back strain | Transferring and repositioning patients |
| Lower back | Slipped disc | Lifting with the back bent and twisted |
| Lower back | SI joint pain | Handling patients with one side doing more of the work |
| Knee | Kneecap pain (patellofemoral pain) | Squatting at the bedside |
| Ankle | Rolled ankle (lateral ankle sprain) | A slip on a wet floor |
| Foot | Heel pain (plantar fasciitis) | Long shifts on hard floors |
National servicemen
NS loads the legs and the back with weight and distance. Route marches with a field pack, runs in boots and the obstacle course all arrive in the same weeks of BMT, and bone adapts to load more slowly than muscle does. Injury rates in basic military training are high, and high running mileage is one of the risk factors (Kaufman and colleagues, American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 2000).
| Where | Injury | How National Service usually causes it |
|---|---|---|
| Wrist | Wrist fracture (distal radius) | A fall in the field |
| Wrist | Scaphoid fracture | A fall onto an outstretched hand, with pain at the base of the thumb that is easy to take for a sprain |
| Shoulder | Rucksack palsy (brachial plexus compression) | Field pack straps pressing on the nerves above the collarbone |
| Shoulder | Dislocation or instability | A fall on the obstacle course |
| Lower back | Low back strain | Carrying a field pack |
| Lower back | Slipped disc | Lifting and load carriage |
| Hip | Femoral neck stress fracture. See a doctor first | Groin pain that builds with marching and running |
| Hip | Outer hip pain (gluteal tendinopathy) | Load carriage |
| Thigh | Hamstring strain | The sprint in a fitness test |
| Knee | Kneecap pain (patellofemoral pain) | Marching with a load |
| Knee | Outer knee pain (ITB syndrome) | Route marches |
| Knee | ACL tear | A landing on the obstacle course |
| Knee | Meniscus tear | Twisting on uneven ground |
| Lower leg | Shin splints (medial tibial stress syndrome) | Route marches and runs |
| Lower leg | Tibial stress fracture | The training load in BMT |
| Calf | Achilles tendon pain (tendinopathy) | Running volume |
| Ankle | Rolled ankle (lateral ankle sprain) | Field terrain |
| Ankle | Ankle fracture | A fall in the field |
| Foot | Metatarsal stress fracture (march fracture) | Marching distance |
| Foot | Heel pain (plantar fasciitis) | Boots and marching |
| Foot | Navicular stress fracture | Running and marching load |
Teachers
Teaching is standing, bending and marking. The day is spent on your feet on a hard classroom floor, leaning over student desks and reaching up to the top of the whiteboard, and the evening goes with the head down over a stack of exercise books. Neck, back and shoulder problems are common in school teachers (Erick and Smith, BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 2011).
| Where | Injury | How teaching usually causes it |
|---|---|---|
| Wrist | Repetitive strain injury (RSI) | Hours of marking |
| Shoulder | Rotator cuff tendon pain | Writing on the whiteboard above head height |
| Neck | Neck pain from posture | Marking with the head down |
| Upper back | Pain between the shoulder blades | The marking posture |
| Lower back | Low back strain | Standing, and bending to student desks |
| Knee | Kneecap pain (patellofemoral pain) | Crouching to a child’s level in preschool |
| Ankle | Rolled ankle (lateral ankle sprain) | Stairs and playgrounds |
| Foot | Heel pain (plantar fasciitis) | Standing on hard floors |
Where we are
Clinics across Singapore
ORCHARD
400 Orchard Road #12-12
Orchard Towers, S238875
NS22 Orchard MRT
Physiotherapy and hand therapy in Orchard →
WhatsApp 8800 1830TAMPINES
9 Tampines Grande #01-20
Asia Green, S528735
EW2DT32 Tampines MRT
Physiotherapy and hand therapy in Tampines →
WhatsApp 8780 9608SERANGOON
265 Serangoon Central Drive #04-269
S550265 · Lift C only
NE12CC13 Serangoon MRT
Physiotherapy and hand therapy in Serangoon →
WhatsApp 8892 4121TANJONG PAGAR
10 Anson Road #02-77A
International Plaza, S079903
EW15 Tanjong Pagar MRT
Physiotherapy and hand therapy in Tanjong Pagar →
WhatsApp 8227 7074JURONG EAST
2 Venture Drive #02-02
Vision Exchange, S608526
NS1EW24 Jurong East MRT
Opening 25 October 2026
Physiotherapy and hand therapy in Jurong East →
WhatsApp 8242 7340The rest of the condition library
Four ways into the same clinic. If what happened to you is not on this page, it is on one of the others: orthopedic and trauma injuries, grouped by what happened rather than by the name on the report; sports and training injuries, grouped by the sport; work and repetitive strain injuries, grouped by the job; and pregnancy, postnatal and women's health. There is also the full A to Z of everything we treat.
What our patients say
Google reviews from our clinics in Singapore.
