You normally spend eight waking hours at work, pushing paper, operating machinery, or chaffing wheat; no matter what you do, your work will most probably involve movements which are repeated, and positions which are maintained for hours at a time. You may also be suffering some discomfort and even pain which are associated with your work – these are qualified injuries by the way, and they can lead to something serious if you don’t do anything about them.
Repetitive strain injury is a loose term which applies to injuries of the muscles, joints, and tendons, and as such they affect the areas wherein these three tissue types are found – the limbs, elbows, shoulders, fingers, or wrists. These injuries are no different to a tennis elbow or a swimmer’s cramp, and are usually caused by three factors: rapid and forceful movements, and assuming a fixed position on an unsupported limb. The coverage of such injuries are as varied as there are task possibilities in every line of work; a door-to-door salesman tends to exert the force of his walk more on his right foot even when he doesn’t carry a suitcase, and an office clerk will suffer wrist pain from the endless hours of typing on a computer. Any task which forces someone to assume an unnatural position can develop repetitive strain injuries.
The initial symptoms of the condition are telling indeed: tingling, numbness, or painful sensations, a loss of dexterity, swollenness and rawness, and aching which is at its peak when the body wants to rest. Also, the pain in a localized region may spread to adjacent parts, especially if they are all involved in the repetitive motions. Repetitive strain injures encompass a wide range of conditions which affect all of the jointed body parts, such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, tension neck syndrome, trigger finger, bursitis, and radial nerve entrapment, to name a few.
It appears that RSIs are an inescapable occupational hazard. Practically every movement you do at work is either repeated or sustained. What can you do then? Proper posture is the first step towards avoiding these developed injuries. If you are glued to your seat for most of the day, at least you can do yourself a favor and assume the proper seating posture – knees slightly bent, buttocks tucked, head above shoulders, and abdominal muscles tightened; these provide your body with ample support. A good relationship with a doctor or chiropractor is also a must if the daily strain has already taken its toll on your body, accompanied by an efficient information campaign which is initiated by your own company. After all, occupational injuries mean more days off and less productivity, leading to fewer gains in the long run.
If you’re feeling the initial symptoms of pain and numbness on any jointed area in your body, consult your doctor at once; you may be suffering from a work-related RSI which needs immediate attention. If monotony and repetition are essential components of your job, make sure you take the time out for short breaks between tasks to allow your body to recuperate from the strain. You’re doing yourself a favor in taking a break just for the sake of doing it.
