REPETITIVE STRAIN INJURY (RSI)

WHAT IS REPETITIVE STRAIN INJURY?

Repetitive strain injury (RSI) is a term used to describe pain which is caused to muscles, nerves and tendons by repetitive movement and overuse. The condition commonly affects muscles and tendons acting over the, elbow, wrist, hands, neck and shoulders. RSI is usually associated with repetitively carrying out a particular activity over a long period of time. It often occurs in people who work with computers or carry out repetitive manual work.

TYPES OF REPETITIVE STRAIN INJURY:

There are two types of Repetitive Strain Injury:

TYPE 1 RSI:
When the injury is able to be diagnosed as a recognised medical condition, such as carpal tunnel syndrome. Symptoms usually include swelling and inflammation of the muscles or tendons.

TYPE 2 RSI:
When the injury cannot be diagnosed as any medical condition from the symptoms. This is normally because there are no obvious symptoms, other than feelings of pain. Type 2 RSI is also referred to as non-specific pain syndrome.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Repetitive Strain Injury
TYPES OF REPETITIVE STRAIN INJURY:

Below is a list of several medical conditions and injuries that can be classed as Type 1 RSI.

BURSITIS: An inflammation and swelling of the fluid-filled sac near a joint such as the the knee, elbow or shoulder.

CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME: Pressure on the median nerve which passes through the wrist.

DUPUYTREN’S CONTRACTURE: Thickening of the deep tissue in the palm of the hand and into the fingers.

EPICONDYLITIS: An inflammation of an area where bone and tendons join. An example of epicondylitis is tennis elbow.

ROTATOR CUFF SYNDROME: Inflammation of muscles and tendons in the shoulder.

TENDONITIS: Inflammation of tendons.

TENOSYNOVITIS: Inflammation of the inner lining of the tendon sheath that houses tendons. Tenosynovitis most commonly occurs in the hand, wrist or forearms as well as tendons of the foot and ankle.

GANGLION CYST: A sac of fluid that forms around a joint or tendon, usually on the wrist or fingers.

RAYNAUD’S PHENOMENON: A condition where the blood supply to extremities, such as the fingers, is interrupted.

THORACIC OUTLET SYNDROME: compression of the nerves or blood vessels that run between the base of the neck and the armpit.

WRITER’S CRAMP: Part of a family of disorders known as dystonia that cause muscle spasms in the affected part of the body. Writer’s cramp occurs from overuse of the hands and arms.

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