What Are Repetitive Stress Injuries?
Also known as repetitive strain injury (RSI) and sometimes referred as repetitive motion injuries, repetitive motion disorder (RMD), cumulative trauma disorder (CTD), overuse syndrome, and regional musculoskeletal disorder.
Repetitive strain injuries refer to a gradual buildup of damage to muscles, tendons, and nerves from repetitive movements, forceful exertions or vibrations, mechanical compression, and sustained or awkward positions.
A repetitive strain injury can affect almost any movable part of the human body.
Types of Repetitive Strain Injuries
Your chiropractor will normally be able to diagnose repetitive strain injury through a physical examination and by discerning the sort of repetitive tasks, the sources of the discomfort, and when it tends to happen.
This allows us to broadly categorise your condition into 2 types of RSIs:
- Type 1 RSI is where the symptoms can be categorised as a specific condition, such as carpal tunnel syndrome or tennis elbow.
- Type 2 RSI, or diffuse RSI, is where the symptoms are not easily categorised. Symptoms may be vague or shifting, with few or no measurable signs, such as swelling or nerve damage.
You may be familiar with some of the more common Type 1 RSI conditions.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
The carpal tunnel is a tiny ligament and bone passageway in the wrist. The carpal tunnel houses the median nerve, which extends from the forearm to the hand.
When the median nerve is crushed or constricted, carpal tunnel syndrome occurs.
One of the common reasons for developing carpal tunnel syndrome is repetitive strain involving the hand or wrist, which causes the carpel tunnel or surrounding tendons to swell.
Trigger Finger/Gamer’s Thumb
Stenosing tenosynovitis refers to damage to the sheath that surrounds the tendons in the fingers. You may be more familiar with its other aliases: trigger finger, gamer’s/Playstation thumb.
Inside the tendon sheath runs the pieces of fibrous tissue, we know as tendons, that act as pulleys, allowing fingers to flex. If the pulley at the base of the finger (the A1 pulley) becomes inflamed or thicker than normal, stenosing tenosynovitis develops.
Gout and rheumatoid arthritis, for example, can cause stenosing tenosynovitis, although it can also be produced by repetitive motions of gripping. It’s considered a repetitive strain injury when the issue is caused by overuse.
Tennis Elbow and Golfer’s Elbow
Tennis elbow, sometimes called lateral epicondylitis, is a type of tendonitis affecting the tendons on the outside of the elbow. Degeneration of the tendon’s connection can occur as a result of repetitive strain, causing pain.
Overuse can be caused by a variety of activities and usually affects the dominant arm in most persons.
On the other hand, medial epicondylitis, often known as golfer’s elbow, is a condition that causes pain on the inside of the elbow.
What Are the Symptoms of a Repetitive Strain Injury?
Repetitive strain injuries can occur anywhere in the body that experiences long periods of repetitive movement. However, they most frequently affect your:
- wrists and hands
- forearms and elbows
- neck and shoulders
Symptoms may begin gradually and then become constant and more intense. Here are some of the more general symptoms:
- tenderness or pain in the affected muscle or joint
- a throbbing or pulsating sensation in the affected area
- tingling, especially the hand or arm
- loss of sensation
- loss of strength
Other symptoms depend on which part of the body is affected.
What Are the Causes and Risk Factors of Repetitive Strain Injuries?
A repetitive strain injury can occur when you do repetitive movements which cause your muscles and tendons to become damaged over time.
Some activities that can increase your risk for RSI are:
- stressing the same muscles through a repetitive task
- maintaining poor posture for extended periods of time
- lifting heavy loads
- being in poor physical condition or not exercising enough
Previous injuries or conditions, such as a rotator cuff tear or an injury to your wrist, back, or shoulder, can also predispose you to RSI.
Certain occupations may increase your risk of a repetitive strain injury, such as:
- dental hygienists
- industrial workers who use power tools/frequently lift heavy objects
- cleaners
- cooks
- bus drivers
- musicians
What is the Treatment Available for a Repetitive Strain Injury?
For many persons with a repetitive strain injury, the usual treatment is to avoid exercise, relax, and take pain medication.
While this may alleviate your symptoms, it may not heal your injury. The goal is to eliminate any musculoskeletal dysfunctions or constraints that are preventing your joints from functioning normally.
A number of things must occur in order to adequately treat RSI:
1. Remove any scar tissue formed in the afflicted area.
With RSI, scar tissue is unavoidable. It causes stiffness and pain in joints and soft tissues, as well as weakness and damage.
Thus, your chiropractic session will begin with the aim of working towards breaking up scar tissue affecting the RSI, improving flexibility and alleviating discomfort. In fact, a lot of patients begin to feel better after just a few appointments.
2. Relax joint and muscle tension.
With RSI, stiff joints are also a reality. Because your joints are stiff, your muscles have to exert more effort to move them. As a result, you may experience pain and a smaller range of motion during everyday activities.
Our chiropractic care can improve the mobility of your joints while also relieving strain on your muscles and soft tissues.
3. Support healing and prevent RSI from reoccuring.
A vital part of your RSI treatment at Elite Spine Centre is figuring out what you need to do or change to prevent it from happening again.
After chiropractic treatment has been administered, the next step is implementing physical therapy-like exercise in order to support the healing of the affected area. When implemented correctly, these exercises can strengthen the muscles with the possibility of preventing relapse’s of your condition.
Moreover, our customised treatment plan for patients often includes lifestyle advice regarding regular exercise, relaxation techniques, posture, diet, occupational safety and the like.
Stop Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) from Affecting Your Life
Your body was designed to move, but if you move in the same way every day for hours on end, it can eventually cause problems with your joints, resulting in pain and discomfort.
That’s why it’s a good idea to seek frequent chiropractic care before you notice a problem, so any joint limits or dysfunctions may be treated before you experience any symptoms or pain.
However, if you are already experiencing arm, shoulder or wrist pain, it’s still not too late! Our chiropractors can help identify the source with an evaluation and formulate a treatment plan that can prevent symptoms from worsening.
We can help you move pain-free again by restoring healthy function to your spine, muscles and ligaments. We do so according to our signature Functional Correction Method (FCM) that combines multiple modalities including the latest technologies and exercises similar to physical therapy.