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Repetitive Injury Syndrome

Repetitive Injury Syndrome, also known as Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI), is a blanket term for overuse of certain muscles by engaging in repetitive movements that eventually leads to muscular pain and strain. This pain can occur in many places of the body but is usually confined to upper limbs. Some RSI is diagnosable and able to be cured. In other cases of RSI, no physical cause can be discerned but the patient still complains of intense pain.

  1. Type 1 RSI

    • Type 1 RSI is diagnosable by a doctor. If you have pain in your wrists or hands from typing, the doctor can confirm a case of carpal tunnel syndrome, treat your symptoms and advise further practices to ensure the healthy movement of the damaged area. For example, tenosynovitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow (epicondylitis) and cramp of the hand (writer's cramp) are all Type 1 RSIs.

    Type 2 RSI

    • Type 2 RSI cannot be diagnosed by doctors, despite the patient's insistence that he experiences pain. These claims of pain are harder to work with, treat effectively and understand. Treatments applied are rarely successful.

    Causes of RSI

    • The causes of RSI are pretty cut and dry, including repetitive actions, engaging in a strenuous activity for long periods of time without taking any breaks, and adopting a poor posture during work that causes you to stand or perform awkwardly through long shifts at work.

    Symptoms

    • Symptoms of RSI include pain, tingling, stiffness, cramps, numbness and weakness. Swelling may also be experienced. The symptoms will affect work and play, waking and sleeping, and on- and off-job performance.

    Treatment

    • Treatment involves therapeutically using the impaired muscle until its strength is regained, trying possibly osteopathy or acupuncture. Swimming and engaging in relaxation techniques such as yoga or meditation may give some relief. Rehabilitation is possible and even if you never regain full function of the muscle, a physical therapist may also be able to help in this situation by stretching and moving the muscle slowly until it is able to move on its own without pain.

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