Repetitive stress injuries (RSI), also called repetitive strain injuries, represent a broad description of specific outcomes or pathologies as a result of repetitively stressing a joint. Examples of RSIs are cubital tunnel syndrome, bursitis, deQuervain's syndrome, dystonia, ganglion cyst, tendonitis, tenosynovitis, thoracic outlet syndrome, epicondylitis, Raynaud's' syndrome, Dupuytren's syndrome and gamekeeper's thumb. Carpal tunnel syndrome is not considered a RSI but instead results from repetitively stressing the hand. The causes of RSI can be attributed to a number of factors.
Overuse
Recently, computer use and overuse, text messaging and video gaming have been cited as among the greatest factors in causing new cases of repetitive stress injuries. Very light movements repeated over and over again for hours upon hours, as in typing, are enough to accumulate enough of the small stresses and irritations over time to produce a RSI.
Forceful Activities
Repetitive stress injuries also can be caused by less repetitive but more forceful activities. Weight lifting, weight training and construction work often necessitate rapid and heavy lifting. When such is performed from day to day, the resultant accumulated injury to tissues can be significant.
Acute Trauma
Even though RSI, by definition, involves repetitive strain, the motions causing such strain can be short lived yet extremely forceful. Vehicular accidents are an excellent example. After accidents, people often have symptoms of tendinitis in the limbs and neck. Such results also can be long lasting.
Posture
The computer workstation has been implicated as one of the major contributors to the increase in RSI cases. Having poor posture at the workstation exacerbates the repetitive motions of typing and mouse use. These stresses accumulate daily. Over period of months and years, the stresses can result in debilitating illness.
Environmental Factors
Individuals who work or recreate outdoors in cold climates are particularly susceptible to temperature-induced RSI. Activities such as using hand tools or driving a vehicle, which normally might not cause RSI, are made worse by the cold temperatures. Similarly, those individuals who use vibrating tools like power saws and hand drills are also susceptible to RSI. Jackhammer users are at particularly high risk for developing tendinitis.
Stress, Fatigue & Personality
The contributions of these factors in causing RSI are not well understood. Yet it is known that emotional stress and the ability to handle stressful situations can increase the likelihood of acquiring a RSI when repetitive activities are performed. Fatigue also is a contributing factor, although its effects on RSI are poorly understood. Those individuals who work with their hands and push themselves beyond the point of being tired are at risk.
References
- Repetitivestraininjy.org: Causes of repetitive strain injuries
- Medical News Today: What Is Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)?
- "Repetitive strain injury (cumulative trauma disorder)"; Mt Sinai Journal of Medicine; N. Nainzadeh; May 1999
