Common
Repetitive Strain Injuries
Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI's) in the workplace are about as common as a
beer holder hat at a NASCAR event! From office workers to grocery clerks, dental
assistants to custodians, Repetitive Strain Injuries are affecting millions of
people everywhere and from all walks of life.
Workstation
Musts to Avoid Repetitive Strain Injuries
Repetitive
Strain Injuries (RSI'S) are Often Caused by Extensive
Computer Use. The Following Factors Contribute
to the Development of these Injuries...
Combating
repetitive Strain Injuries in the Workplace
In the case of Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI'S) affecting the wrists/hands,
the prime source of hazard is the continuous repetitive and static use of the
flexor muscles of the fingers/wrists in a uni-directional motion, which is used
to perform most types of work. (i.e. grasping objects, typing.) Other components
of work such as the applied force, fixed body positions, and the pace of work
requiring the same movements over and over again, are also contributing factors
to RSI'S.
Muscle
Imbalance - The Cause of CTS and Other Dysfunctions
People have been using their hands for decades without the severity of Carpal
Tunnel Syndrome and Repetitive Strain Injury cases that are prevalent in today's
society. The reason is that most tasks today require unidirectional resistive
force (i.e. typing, mousing, gripping a steering wheel, etc.), therefore leading
to a muscle imbalance between the overused (overdeveloped) muscle group and the
underused (underdeveloped) muscle group.
Stretching - The Solution to Repetitive
Strain Injuries?
To stretch or not to stretch.This is a question
that has been posed by many people in their quest
to eliminate repetitive strain injuries like carpal
tunnel syndrome, trigger finger, tunnel syndrome,
cubital tunnel syndrome, guyon's syndrome, tendonitis
and many other upper extremity disorders.
Eliminating
Repetitive strain Injuries in the Workplace
Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI's) that occur at work are best eliminated at
the source; this is the fundamental goal of occupational health and safety.
Take the steps to become pain-free!
Massage
Therapy and Repetitive Strain Injuries
There is no question that conservative therapy is the best option for those
suffering with a Repetitive Strain Injury. From Trigger Finger to Thoracic
Outlet Syndrome, conservative therapy is the best choice for 95% of all RSI
sufferers.
Cubital
Tunnel Syndrome.
Cubital tunnel syndrome is
a repetitive stress injury that occurs in the elbow.
Caused by pressure in the ulnar nerve that runs through
the elbow, the syndrome is characterized by numbness,
pain, and tingling. Although potentially debilitating,
the condition is responsive to early intervention
and treatment.
Dequervains Syndrome.
DeQuervains Syndrome is a painful malady of the wrist.
Known by many names, including washerwoman's sprain
and stenosing tenosynovitis, the condition involves
an inflammation of the tunnels that facilitate tendon
movement in the thumb. Symptoms are varied and include
pain, swelling, and tingling in the wrist as well
as diminished grip strength and dexterity.
Dupuytrens Contracture. Dupuytren's contracture is
a painful hand condition characterized by tissue
pathology in the palm and fingers. For reasons
that are not well understood, the tissue in the
hand begins to toughen, thereby causing the fingers
to curl in toward the palm. This results in significant
discomfort and it can bring great functional disability. Wrist
Pain
Wrist pain can occur for
a variety of reasons including medical illness,
overuse of the wrist, and acute trauma. In each
case, the pain can be debilitating and it can undermine
one's ability to perform basic daily living tasks.
Thankfully, innovative treatments are emerging
to help manage, reduce, and in some cases, eliminate
wrist pain altogether.
|