What is a repetitive strain injury?
A repetitive strain injury is damage to your muscles, tendons or nerves caused by repetitive motions and constant use. They’re also sometimes called repetitive stress injuries.
Repetitive strain injuries are very common and usually affect your:
- Fingers and thumbs.
- Wrists.
- Elbows.
- Arms.
- Shoulders.
- Knees.
As their name suggests, repetitive strain injuries are caused by doing the same motion or activity repeatedly until it starts to hurt your body. Any motion or movement — from typing on a computer at work to practicing an instrument — can cause a repetitive strain injury if you do it too often.
Most repetitive stress injuries can be treated at home.
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Who gets repetitive strain injuries?
Anyone can get a repetitive strain injury. Some of the most common people affected include:
- Workers with physically demanding jobs.
- Athletes.
- Musicians.
- People who sit at a desk or use a computer often.
How common are repetitive strain injuries?
Repetitive strain injuries are very common. They lead to many conditions, including:
How does a repetitive strain injury affect my body?
The most obvious way a repetitive strain injury will affect you is the pain, discomfort and other symptoms you feel.
Because these injuries build up over time, that slow repeated damaged can also lead to other conditions, including:
FAQs
Physiotherapy. If your symptoms do not improve, you may be referred for physiotherapy. As well as massaging the affected area, a physiotherapist can show you exercises to help strengthen your muscles and improve your posture.
What are 6 symptoms of RSI? ›
Symptoms of a repetitive strain injury include:
- Pain.
- Swelling.
- Tingling.
- Numbness.
- Stiffness.
- Weakness.
- Sensitivity to cold or heat.
Tissue healing times can vary but as a general guide, under to right conditions, an injured muscle will take 4-8 weeks to heal, and injured tendon 8-12 weeks, and an irritated nerve anywhere between 4-12 weeks. This all depends on the continued strain on the tissue being under control.
What are the symptoms of a RSI injury? ›
Symptoms of an acute injury include:
- Sudden, severe pain.
- Extreme swelling or bruising.
- Not being able to place weight on a leg, knee, ankle, or foot.
- Not being able to move a joint normally.
- Extreme weakness of an injured limb.
- A bone or joint that is visibly out of place.
Repetitive Strain Injury stretching exercises can help relieve pain and soreness throughout your body. Setting aside 15 minutes per day for the stretches in this article will help reduce your RSI tension, soreness, and pain.
What happens if RSI goes untreated? ›
At first, you might only notice symptoms when you're carrying out a particular repetitive action. But without treatment, the symptoms of RSI may eventually become constant and cause longer periods of pain. You may also get swelling in the affected area, which can last for several months.
Does RSI show up on MRI? ›
Diagnosing RSI
Ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans are both useful tests your doctor can order to characterise the injury and assess damage to soft tissue.
Why is RSI so painful? ›
The term 'RSI' is used to describe a range of different problems that affect your muscles, tendons, joints and nerves in your upper body. Repeated strain on these tissues can start to damage them. Over time, this can lead to symptoms such as pain and loss of strength.
Can RSI become permanent? ›
At later stages the RSI becomes constant and becomes irreversible. This is severe RSI or stage 3. There may be pain, weakness, and fatigue even during sleep. The sufferer may be unable to carry out even light tasks at home or work.
Is heat or cold better for RSI? ›
A very general rule of thumb to follow is to use ICE in the first 48 hours after an injury or trauma. This will reduce the blood flow to the area, decreasing any inflammation or swelling. HEAT, on the other hand, will increase the blood flow which will help to ease tight and sore muscles.
At bedtime
- Develop a bedtime routine (warm bath, snack, clean teeth, etc) and carry it out every night. ...
- Go to bed only when you feel sleepy.
- Don't read or watch television in your bedroom.
- Enjoy relaxing in bed even if you don't fall asleep immediately.
How to Prevent Repetitive Stress Injury
- Configure your work area to support good posture. ...
- Use a supportive, adjustable chair. ...
- Use the right computer keyboard and mouse. ...
- Sit with your feet flat on the floor. ...
- Alternate between sitting and standing if possible. ...
- Use a headset for calls. ...
- Take regular breaks.
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.
How do I know if I have RSI or carpal tunnel? ›
You may experience pain, aching, tenderness, stiffness, numbness or tingling in the affected area. What are the symptoms of CTS? As with RSI, you may experience pain in your hand or arm and some tingling or numbness, however the main difference is that CTS often causes weakness in the thumb and makes your grip weaker.
How to prove repetitive strain injury? ›
As in most workers' compensation cases, the records from your doctor and other healthcare providers will provide the primary evidence for your claim. In some repetitive strain injury cases, the testimony of an expert witness is necessary to establish a connection between a worker's injuries and their employment.
What is the best medication for RSI? ›
Suxamethonium (succinylcholine): It is the most common muscle relaxant used in RSI. Rocuronium: It takes effect within 45-60 seconds. Pharmacological adjuncts include the following: Fentanyl.
What is the best muscle relaxant for RSI? ›
Suxamethonium is the most commonly used muscle relaxant during RSI, but non-depoloarizers may have to be used when the former is contraindicated. Suxamethonium Its rapid onset, short duration of action as well as good quality of muscle relaxation makes sumethonium14 the ideal muscle relaxant for RSI.
How to fix RSI in wrist? ›
Treating RSI
You may need to stop doing the activity altogether, or make modifications to reduce the force placed through the muscles and tendons. Anti-inflammatories can be taken for pain relief. Heat packs can also help to relax all the muscles, and restore blood flow to the area to aid in the healing process.
What medication is used for repetitive strain injury? ›
Anti-inflammatory medicines, including both over-the-counter medications like NSAIDs (such as Ibuprofen) and prescription options like corticosteroid injections, can relieve overuse injury symptoms. Splinting or soft, supportive braces are often helpful, as are icing with a cold pack to reduce inflammation.
