Repetitive
strain injury has been around since people first began repeating motions and
carrying out manual labor.
The first
description of repetitive strain injury (RSI) came from an
Italian physician, Bernardino Ramazzini, in 1700. He described more than 20
categories of RSI that he observed in the industrial workers of Italy.
Today, the main causes of
RSI are manual labor, office work, and the use of modern technological devices.
Examples include Blackberry thumb, iPod finger, PlayStation thumb, Rubik's
wrist or cuber's thumb, stylus finger, raver's wrist, and Emacs pinky.
The range of RSIs is
wide, but this article will focus mainly on those caused by working
environments, sports, and the use of modern devices.
Fast facts on RSI
Here are some key points
about RSI. More detail is in the main article.
·
There are many different
kinds of RSI, and different ways of treating and preventing them.
·
Modern technological
devices have caused an upswing in RSIs.
·
Repetitive motions in one
part of the body can affect the muscles in another part.
·
Psychological stress and monotony can
worsen the symptoms.
·
Improved workplace
practices can help prevent it.
What is an RSI?
RSI refers to a wide
variety of problems. An RSI can affect almost any movable part of the human
body.
RSIs are associated with
repetitive tasks, forceful exertions, vibrations, mechanical compression, and
sustained or awkward positions.
Other names include
repetitive motion injuries, repetitive motion disorder (RMD), cumulative trauma
disorder (CTD), occupational overuse syndrome, overuse syndrome, and regional
musculoskeletal disorder.
Symptoms
RSI has many possible
causes, and a wide range of possible symptoms.
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.
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