Welcome to Dr. Christian Walker's

discussion of Repetitive Strain Injury

As more and more work, education, and recreation involves computers, everyone needs to be aware of the hazard of Repetitive Strain Injury to the hands and arms resulting from the use of computer keyboards and mice. This can be a serious and very painful condition that is far easier to prevent than to cure once contracted

Increasingly, it is occurring in young physically fit individuals. It is not uncommon for people to have to leave computer-dependent careers as a result, or even to be disabled and unable to perform tasks such as driving or dressing themselves. This site is for people who need help.

Repetitive Strain Injury

Introduction

Repetitive Strain Injury is also commonly called Repetitive Stress Injury, and it affects millions of people today. Although it is commonly thought of as a work related injury, Repetitive Strain Injury is just that . . . it's injury from repetitive motion, so it can and does occur from any activity you engage in repetitively. Including those you may love doing just for fun.

Repetitive Strain Injury often affects those who sit at a desk (especially a computer) every day for hours on end. Standing in a production line hour after hour is also a very common way to develop a repetitive strain injury.  

Repetitive Strain Injury Symptoms

With Repetitive Strain Injury you may have recurring pain and/or soreness in your neck, upper back, shoulders, wrists, or hands. You may experience tingling, numbness, coldness, or loss of sensation in the affected areas as well. A general checklist of symptoms includes:

• pains or tenderness in your muscles or joints, 
• a throbbing sensation in the affected area, 
• tingling (pins and needles) or numbness in your hand or arm, 
• loss of strength or sensation in your hand. 

Initially these symptoms may only occur when you are carrying out the repetitive motion, for example during working hours. Towards the end of the day your symptoms may improve when you have finished work and are resting. This initial stage of symptoms may last for several weeks. 

If left untreated, the symptoms are likely to persist, causing pain or aching much of the time. You may also have tender swelling in the affected area, which can last for several months.  

Pain could also be experienced all the time, affecting your sleep. At this stage the condition may be irreversible. Therefore, recognizing the early symptoms of RSI is important to ensure that any treatment is most effective.

For example, a loss of grip, lack of muscular endurance, weakness, and fatigue are all very common warning signs of repetitive strain. These signs could arise after prolonged use of a  screwdriver. You may feel your wrist become restricted and experience pain and perhaps a loss of movement. If such is the case for you, it's important to pay close attention to what your body is telling you because the signs could be the beginning of a very difficult time. Joints have been known to stiffen and can cause a person to lose their job if left untreated. 

Also note that while RSI effects only the upper torso and limbs, symptoms can nonetheless appear in the lower half of the body. This is due to the action of vertebral nerves.

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See Dr. Walker's invention for eliminating repetitive strain injury pain.
visit: the Carpal Therapist