RSI (Repetitive strain injury)
RSI treatment comes with the following statement: “Warning: Before beginning an program of physical inactivity, consult your doctor. Sedentary living is abnormal and dangerous to your health.”
Frank Forencich, Exuberant Animal: The Power of Health, Play and Joyful Movement
Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI) is a broad term that applies to 2 main categories: problems relating to tendons or cellulitis (inflammation of soft tissue), and Upper Limb Disorders (U.L.D.). It may also be referred to as work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs).
These are all basic terms that cover a variety of conditions that can be experienced in many workplaces.
The modern age of electronic typewriters, computers, mobile phones and laptops have replaced large and cumbersome workplace office equipment in an ever increasing search for efficiency. It is generally thought that ‘efficient’ is better and smarter. Bodies were built for larger, gross movements that require muscles being taken through a larger range of motion that is absent from many of the workplaces in modern lifestyle.
Many labouring jobs require a limited and frequently used movement such as bending, lifting, stacking and other manual work.
When larger muscle movements are replaced with smaller, repetitive and numerous tasks such as clicking a mouse, staring at a screen placed off to one side, or even picking up bottles working at a brewery (speaking from experience) the muscles and other tissues are prone to strain, tightness, Trigger Points and general dysfunction.
Some of these conditions are, but not limited to:
- Tennis Elbow
- De Quervain’s Syndrome
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
- Wrist tendinosis
- Trigger Finger
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/6303661_Repetitive_strain_injury
Other areas that are prone to injury are the shoulder, upper back and neck. Any job that requires a repeated motion or prolonged, sedentary posture increases the risk of an injury.
Age, stress and other factors can play a role in an increased likelihood as well.
A 2007 report from the Australian Bureau of Statistics placed nearly one third of workplace injuries as muscle strains or sprains, the most commonly reported injuries. “While office work may seem relatively low risk, there are a number of health issues that can be attributed to the use of computers. Awkward or stationary postures may lead to back or neck pain, and repetitive tension or motion, such as mouse work, may lead to strain injuries”
https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/0/63ED457234C2F22DCA25732C002080A7
Chinese Medicine views pain in the body as a sign of dis-harmony: where there is pain or discomfort, there is a blockage. Tui Na, amongst the other applications of Chinese Medicine, seeks to restore the flow of Qi and Blood to the site of pain. Tui Na will also physically remove adhesions between tissues, stretch out restricted connective tissue, release the tight muscles associated with the tendons and promote restorative blood flow to the area and encourage the body to heal itself.
Typical interventions for RSI are rest, physical therapy from a qualified practitioner who may prescribe corrective exercises, corticosteroid injections, non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), tricyclic antidepressants and sedatives, surgery, and the ‘wait and see’ approach.
So if you are experiencing any discomfort from prolonged periods of work, get yourself checked by a qualified doctor for a proper diagnosis. Tui Na may be able to provide relief from the aches and pains that can arise from the workplace.
