Repetitive Stain Injury - Symptoms and Which Workers Are Most at Risk

Repetitive strain injury (RSI) is a blanket term for overuse injuries in the upper body, non-specific pain, and a number of specific medical conditions, including tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome and tennis elbow. RSI will often develop in the neck, upper back and shoulders, as well as in the forearms, wrists, hands and fingers. It is primarily associated with workers performing particular activities for excessive periods, often over many years. Repetitive physical actions cause tiny tears and deterioration in the muscles and tendons, as well as damaging nerves. Though in most instances this injury can be treated with rest, painkillers, anti-inflammatories and avoidance of the activity that originally caused it, in other cases conditions may be debilitating, permanent and progressive.

Traditionally, repetitive strain injury tended to affect manufacturing workers, engaged in repetitive, physically demanding work. Increased mechanisation in factories however means that workers no longer perform the same tasks as their predecessors a generation ago. The decline of manufacturing and the rise of the service sector means that most jobs are now mainly sedentary. As the typical workplace has changed, new causes of RSI have emerged. The most significant of these is the poor ergonomics of computer workstations, and the poor posture this forces workers to adopt. If office chairs are not adjustable, or computer screens and keyboards are positioned at the wrong height, a person will strain parts of their upper body continually while working, resulting in cumulative damage and potentially an RSI condition.

Apart from office workers, and particularly computer programmers, a number of other industries also have higher than average incidence rates of RSI among workers. Nurses have to carry out repetitive physical tasks, such as turning patients and making beds, over long shifts, making them prone to this condition developing. Chefs and kitchen workers often work long hours, in high pressure environments, engaged in repetitive tasks, such as cutting up food and washing up. Gardeners and professional musicians face similar risks of overuse injuries in the upper body. Workers using vibrating equipment excessively may develop this condition, as may those working without taking sufficient breaks, or for prolonged periods in cold temperatures.

The symptoms of an RSI condition are normally barely noticeable at first. Stiffness, mild pain and tingling sensations in the affected joints and areas of the body may become progressively worse, leading to headaches, numbness and sleeping difficulties. A person may experience significant loss of mobility, and potentially a residual weakness or some level of permanent disability. They may be unable to carry on working to their former capacity, particularly where a routine work task was the main cause of this injury developing in the first place. Workers with serious and long term RSI conditions may find that their employment or career advancement prospects are limited. Some may be forced to change profession, or retire from working altogether. It is in these circumstances that an injured person may decide to begin a compensation claim against their current or former employer.