Repetitive Stress Injury Exercises

Repetitive stress injury (also known as RSI) occurs when your body performs the same movements repeatedly on a consistent basis. These movements put stress on the affected areas. RSI can affect any occupation and any individual. There are a variety of modalities and repetitive stress injury exercises you can choose from to decrease your symptoms.

Stretching

• Stretch your shoulder, wrist, arm and hand in one exercise. According to Clay Scott of Rice University, do a repetitive stress injury exercise known as the Wall Stretch. Extend your arm along a wall. Your arm will be parallel to the ground with your palm against the wall. Open your chest so that your shoulders are on the same plane as your arm (perpendicular). Stretch your palm and fingers away from the wall as far as possible. Hold for 30-60 seconds. Return to original position. Repeat this exercise for your other arm. You can also adjust your stretch and do this exercise with your arm at different angles.

  Stretch your fingers. Take a break from your keyboard and grab hold of one hand's fingers with your other hand. Safecomputingtips.com states to gently stretch your fingers back while straightening them. Hold. Return to original position. Do the same with your thumb. Repeat with other hand. This exercise helps both your wrist and fingers.

  Perform the Prayer Stretch, as recommended by the Harvard RSI Action. Place your hands together as if praying. Gently push to one side. Hold for 15 seconds. Gently push to the other side and hold. Obtaining a gentle stretch is the purpose of this exercise. Anything more is overdoing it. Keep fingers straight, fingertips together.

Relaxation Exercise

• Relax your eyes to reduce headaches and eyestrain. Your eyes work hard for you and need breaks just like any part of your body. A helpful repetitive stress injury exercise involves eye palming. Close your eyes, covering them with your palms. Concentrate on the blackness.

Self-Massage

• Eye massage will provide relief. Close your eyes. Cover your eyes with your palms. Gently rub and massage your eyes. If you do not want to use your palms, use your fingers to massage with.

  Massage your lower arms with a tennis ball. According to Clay Scott, place the ball on a firm surface. Press down on it with your forearm. Roll the ball around. Vary the positions and movements. Remember to massage the top of your forearm by applying the ball with your other hand.

Modalities

• According to Harvard RSI Action, repetitive stress injury exercises can be learned through a variety of modalities such as physical therapy, yoga, tai chi, acupuncture, kinesiology and massage therapy.