Understanding Repetitive Strain Injury

If you experience pain in your hands, wrists, elbows, shoulders, knees, neck, or other tendons, muscles, nerves, or joints, you could have a repetitive strain injury (RSI). These injuries can be very painful and make it difficult or painful to move.

What is Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)?

As the name suggests, a repetitive strain injury is caused by repeated use or by doing the same motion or activity until it hurts your body. Anyone who does the same motion over and over can be vulnerable to these types of injuries, including athletes, musicians, or people in a wide variety of jobs from office workers to hairdressers to mechanics and beyond.

A common RSI is carpal tunnel syndrome . This is a situation where the nerve that runs from the forearm to the hand (called the median nerve) is compressed. This happens due to swollen or inflamed ligaments and tendons. It is a common injury for those who work with their hands, such as people who use computer keyboards all day or those who work on assembly lines.

All RSIs, regardless of location, can cause pain, swelling, numbness, tingling, weakness, and several other issues. They can make it difficult not just to do certain activities, but can negatively affect your entire life.

Causes, Symptoms and Risk Factors

Any motion that a person repeats frequently can potentially result in an RSI. For instance, doing the same motions on an assembly line, using hand power tools frequently, typing on a computer keyboard, playing a musical instrument, taking part in a sport like tennis or golf, or any other repetitive actions can cause injury.

This is especially true if the activity causes you to do something uncomfortable or unnatural. For example, using tools above your head, sitting in an uncomfortable position, bending a joint for a long period, or gripping items forcefully can all result in injury.

The symptoms of a repetitive strain injury vary, but they can include burning, aching, or throbbing in the area, as well as cramping, tingling, swelling, or stiffness. You may also experience weakness in the area and even increased sensitivity to heat or cold. Your symptoms may start as mild and gradually become worse.

Risk factors for repetitive strain injuries include being overworked, not taking enough breaks, using poorly maintained or adjusted equipment, not exercising or stretching enough, having poor posture, working in conditions that are too cold, working with tools that vibrate, and many other situations.

Can Repetitive Strain Injury be Permanent?

In many cases, the damage is not permanent, and it should heal over time if treated properly. However, if you do not treat the issue and continue to engage in the activities that caused it, you could end up with serious damage that may be irreversible. 

In rare cases, surgery may be required to fix the issue. However, for many people, there are other treatment options that can be considered first.

Prevention Tips and How to Treat RSI

You can help prevent RSIs by avoiding unnecessary stress on your body. Have good posture when sitting or standing, avoid bending your joints into unnatural positions, take time to move around or stretch, wear proper safety equipment when necessary, and talk to your employer about how you can modify your work if it is causing you pain.

As for how to treat repetitive strain injuries, one of the best options is to reduce the amount of time you spend doing the activity that caused the pain or modify your activity to prevent further damage.

The RICE method is also often successful. This includes Rest, Icing the area, using a Compression bandage, and Elevating the injured area above your heart (if possible). Over-the-counter medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen can reduce inflammation and pain.

Massage therapy  , chiropractic treatments , and other types of physical therapy can also help treat the pain and restore range of motion. 

To learn about our treatment options, contact Kilian Chiropractic today! You can book a chiropractic appointment online  or call us at (604) 688-0724.