Repetitive Strain and You
You may not even realise it, but many of us suffer from one or other forms of RSI. Health and Safety Executive statistics show that there were 115,000 new cases in 2007, up from 86,000 the previous year. (BBC News 2008)
Most people have heard of and know a little about Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI). Well, here is some more information which will hopefully allow you to keep such problems at bay, or start to overcome them if you are already suffering.
RSI is an umbrella term for a large group of musculoskeletal disorders which are caused by repeated overuse and therefore injury to the hands, wrists, arms or shoulders. (An alternate name is Work Related Upper Limb Disorder.) RSI can be divided into two types. Type 1 consists of specific musculoskeletal disorders and Type 2, which is known as diffuse RSI (or non-specific pain syndrome). Examples of Type 1 RSI are tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, Reynauld’s phenomenon, thoracic outlet syndrome, tendonitis and muscle strains.
Anyone whose job or hobby involves repetitive movements is at risk of RSI. At work the use of a computer has increased the number of cases in recent years. Common symptoms include
- Pain anywhere from the neck to the fingers
- Pins and needles and/or numbness
- Weakness (with or without pain)
- Poor range of movement or a feeling of tightness in the neck, shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand or fingers
Here is some general advice on how to prevent problems in the first place;
- Check that your work station is set up correctly. If you are unsure then seek advice from occupational health or a local physiotherapist.
- Keep moving! Try to have frequent short breaks rather than one long break. E.g. stop work for three to five minutes every hour and use this time to do some basic exercises. Set a timer to remind you.
- Posture. This is closely related to the first two points, but it is so important to be aware of your posture, especially if you stay in the same position for a long time.
- Be healthy. General lifestyle can have an influence on RSI. Diet, general exercise and reduced stress can all help to ease or prevent the above problems.
Treatment that is specific for you can only be given after a full assessment and may consist of;
- Joint or soft tissue mobilizations to address faulty biomechanics or adverse neural dynamics.
- Acupuncture/ice or ultrasound to reduce inflammation.
- Home exercises to address muscle imbalance, tightness or adverse neural dynamics.
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Helpful Websites
www.repetitivestraininjury.org.uk
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