RSI
Repetitive strain injury (RSI) is an umbrella term for many separate ailments affecting the hand, wrist, arm, neck, upper back, and shoulder. Medical professionals also use the phrases "occupational overuse injuries" or "cumulative trauma disorders" for this condition, which can result from intensive hand use (see risk factors for RSI).
Symptoms of RSI include numbness, tingling, lack of endurance, tremor, clumsiness, lack of sensation, a feeling of heaviness and pain. These warning signs can appear anywhere along the hand, arm, shoulder or neck.
Muscles, tendons and nerves can all be affected. Common injuries include: carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome, epicondylitis, DeQuervain's disease, trigger finger, bicipital tendinitis, rotator cuff tendinitis, cervical radiculopathy, thoracic outlet syndrome, Raynaud's disease, and others.
RSI Risk Factors
- Ignorance of the warning signs or risk factors for injury
- Over two hours of computer use and/or other repetitive hand movement per day
- Binge or marathon computer use (i.e., video games, deadlines, quarterly reports)
- Lack of frequent, regular breaks
- High stress work
- Lack of control over pacing or workload (rush work, deadlines, quotas)
- Boredom, anger or lack of assertiveness
- Poor posture
- Sitting for long periods
- Static loading (holding still for long periods, as in holding a mouse while staring at a computer monitor)
- Keeping elbows bent for long periods
- Poor technique (twisting or resting wrists, forearms or elbows while using a keyboard or mouse)
- Improper workstation setup (i.e., keyboard too high, monitor too high, low or off to one side)
- Inadequate seating (i.e., chair too high, low, or lacking lumbar support)
- Awkward positions (i.e., typing while using the telephone, reaching for the mouse)
- Long fingernails
- Smoking
- Obesity
- Overly flexible joints
- Weak or tight muscles
- Lack of regular exercise
- Cold hands
- Improper eyeglass prescription or undiagnosed vision problem
- Arthritis, diabetes, thyroid disease, pregnancy, menopause, and other medical conditions
- Hand-intensive hobbies, such as playing a musical instrument, gardening, carpentry, needle crafts, bowling, throwing or racquet sports and playing video games
Warning Signs
Repetitive strain injury (RSI) can affect the neck, shoulders, upper back, upper arm, elbows, forearms, wrists, thumbs or fingers. Warning signs of RSI can appear in any of those areas.
- Weakness
- Fatigue
- Lack of endurance
- Tingling, numbness or loss of sensation
- A feeling of heaviness
- Clumsiness
- Difficulty opening and closing hands
- Stiffness
- Difficulty using hands (turning pages of books or magazines, turning doorknobs or faucets, holding a coffee mug)
- Reluctance to shake hands
- Difficulty carrying things or holding bus or subway poles
- Hands fall asleep
- Waking up with wrist pain or numb hands, especially during early morning hours
- Lack of control or coordination
- Cold hands
- Frequent self-massage
- Difficulty buttoning clothing or putting on jewelry
- Tremors
- Avoidance of activities or sports that were once enjoyable
- Pain or soreness (RSI is not always painful, though)
Deborah Quilter- author Repetitive Strain Injury: A Computer User's Guide (with Emil Pascarelli, M.D., John Wiley & Sons, New York 1994). Deborah is advisor and respected guestspeaker for Backshop Healthy Computing during courses and masterclasses.
Please feel free to contact us for advice via email or phone.