Over Use Injuries and RSI - The Sterling Physiotherapy Practice

Keyboard and mouseRepetitive Strain Injuries (RSI) occur from repeated physical movements doing damage to tendons, nerves, muscles, and other soft body tissues. Occupations ranging from factory workers to musicians have characteristic injuries that can result from the typical tasks they perform. Use of computers and flat, light-touch keyboards that permit high speed typing have resulted in an epidemic of injuries of the hands, arms, and shoulders. Use of pointing devices like mice and trackballs are as much a cause, if not more so. The thousands of repeated keystrokes and long periods of clutching and dragging with mice slowly accumulates damage to the body : another name for the condition is Cumulative Trauma Disorder. This can happen even more quickly as a result of typing technique and body positions that place unnecessary stress on the tendons and nerves in the hand, wrist, arms, and even the shoulders and neck. Lack of adequate rest and breaks and using excessive force almost guarantee trouble.

You may have heard the term Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in connection with these injuries, but in fact CTS is only a small and dangerous percentage of typing injuries. Tendonitis, Bursitis, Tenosynovitis / DeQuervain's Syndrome, Tendinosis, Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, Trigger Finger/Thumb, Myofascial Pain Syndrome, Cubital Tunnel Syndrome, and several other related conditions may also be involved. All of these are serious and in advanced cases can cause great pain and permanent disability. In addition, patients injured by repetitive strain sometimes develop Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy.

Symptoms

  • Tightness, discomfort, stiffness, soreness or burning in the hands, wrists, fingers, forearms, or elbows
  • Tingling, coldness, or numbness in the hands
  • Clumsiness or loss of strength and coordination in the hands
  • Pain that wakes you up at night
  • Feeling a need to massage your hands, wrists, and arms
  • Pain in the upper back, shoulders, or neck associated with using the computer.

Treatments available from the Sterling Physiotherapy Practice for repetitive strain injuries and over use injuries include: acupuncture for pain, massage, joint connective and soft tissue mobilisation, electrotherapy, postural correction, ergonomic training, core stability training

The Sterling Physiotherapy Practice has expanded and now offers a full range of physiotherapy services from the Ashbrooke Sports Club and the Sunderland physiotherapy clinic.