Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)

Repetitive Strain Injury or RSI is another office workers' illness that we always hear. I have read a few articles about this illness and consolidate all the useful information in this article. Hopefully this will be helpful to all of the white collars out there like me, who spend all day long with computers.

Repetitive Strain Injury is a common term referring to soft tissue injuries such as the carpal tunnel syndrome, Upper limb disorder, trigger finger, musculoskeletal disorders, and nerve spasms. RSI is also known as occupational overuse syndrome, or work related upper limb disorder (WRULD) and will cause prolonged pain experienced in neck or shoulder or hands or arms.


Causes Of Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)
Scientifically, the exact cause of RSI is unclear. In many examples, the victim of RSI is not experiencing any swelling, inflammation or other obvious problems which develop in the tendons or muscles, and yet symptoms develop. It is also unclear on why some people develop RSI and not others who do the same repetitive tasks.

Basically, it is believed that the major cause for Repetitive Strain Injury is regular recurring movements of a part of the body, such as typing on keyboard, or using a computer mouse all day long. Also, incorrect posture, or using excessive force while doing these repetitive tasks may contribute to RSI as well.

Some researches shows that stress at work or 'psycho-social workplace factors' might be another reason that contribute to RSI. The theory is that stress will increase muscle's tension, and affects how the body feels and thus causing pain in general.

Symptoms Of Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)
Here are the symptoms that the patients of RSI will typically experience:

• Pain in the arm (typically diffuse--i.e. spread over many areas).
• The pain is worse with activity.
• Weakness, lack of endurance.
• Muscles in the arms and shoulders feel hard and wiry when palpated.
  

The symptoms tend to be diffuse and non-anatomical, crossing the distribution of nerves, tendons, etc. They tend not to be characteristic of any discrete pathological conditions.

Treatments For Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)
When you have experienced the symptoms stated above, see your doctor immediately to seek for advice. The earlier the problem is recognized and dealt with, the better the outcome. Here are some possible treatments/advices that your doctor may give:

• A course of anti-inflammatory painkillers.
• An injection of steroid may be considered into an area which has definite inflammation, such as a tenosynovitis or carpal tunnel syndrome.
• A referral to a physiotherapist who can give advice to help with posture, and how to strengthen or relax the muscles involved.
• Look into practical ways of adjusting your work setup so as to reduce strain. Make use of ergonomic mouse/keyboard/chair at work place.
• Take a break from your repetitive task from time to time.
  
• If at all possible, stop or reduce the tasks or activities which seem to be causing the symptoms. This may be easier said than done if you job or livelihood depends on the task. If possible, discuss the problem with your employer. A change of task, or changes to your work environment, may be possible.
• Yoga, relaxation techniques, regular general exercise (such as swimming) might be useful in easing the symptoms. Some people find complementary therapists such as chiropractors and osteopaths helpful.

Again, it's always better to prevent than treatment. Setup your workplace ergonomically, do more exercise, and see your doctor as early as possible when you found the symptoms on yourself. Good luck folks.

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