|
Can
You Tell Which Hands Suffer
From A Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)? |
Repetitive
Strain Injuries (RSI's) have achieved pandemic proportions
during the past fifteen years, affecting millions
of individuals on a worldwide scale and costing the
business and private sectors hundreds of billions of
dollars every year.
"Musculoskeletal disorders
are the country's most costly category of workplace
injuries and illnesses. In addition to spending $20
billion annually on workers' compensation costs due
to RSI's, the U.S. spends another $100 billion on
lost productivity, employee turnover, and other indirect
expenses;" The Agency for Health Care Policy and
Research .
In the case of Repetitive Strain
Injuries affecting the upper extremity, the
prime cause of injury is the continuous
repetitive and/or static overuse of
muscles in unidirectional movement
patterns, which are used to perform
most work and recreational activities.
(Typing, writing, using a computer mouse, clipping
hedges, raking, turning doorknobs,
etc.)
Other
components that increase chances of a
Repetitive Strain Injury include applied
force, fixed body positions, duration
of activity and the pace of the activities
requiring continuous repetitive motion,
are also contributing factors.
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The main effort to protect
individuals from Repetitive Strain Injuries should
focus on addressing areas that can be altered
or adjusted in order to reduce / prevent the chances
of becoming afflicted with a debilitating Repetitive
Strain Injury / disorder.
|
Computer User's - High Risk For CTS
& RSI |
ONLY
23% of all Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) patients
returned to their previous professions following
surgery,according to the Bureau of Labor & Statistics
and the National Institute for Occupational
Safety & Health
(1997-2000 Statistics).
Ergonomic disorders are
the fastest growing category of work-related
illness. According to the most recent statistics
from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics , they
account for 56 percent of illnesses reported
to the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration.
The term "Repetitive Strain
Injury" is a broad categorization encompassing
a wide variety of injuries, including but not limited
to:
| Carpal Tunnel
Syndrome |
Medial Epicondylitis
(Golfer's Elbow) |
| Lateral Epicondylitis
(Tennis Elbow) |
DeQuervain's
Syndrome |
| Tendonitis |
Guyon's
Syndrome |
| Dupuytren's
Contracture |
Cubital Tunnel
Syndrome |
| Reflex Sympathetic
Dystrophy (RSD) |
Trigger
Finger |
There are a large number of effective,
non-invasive treatments that exist for repetitive
strain injuries, so do not resort to invasive treatment
methods before you try to eliminate the cause of
the disorder naturally with massage, exercise,
physical therapy, etc. Talk with your doctor or
therapist to find out what treatment is best for
you and your repetitive motion / strain disorder! |
