Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) is a potentially debilitating condition resulting from overusing the hands to perform a repetitive task, such as typing, writing, or clicking a mouse. Anyone who uses a computer regularly is at risk and should know about RSI. Unfortunately, most people are uninformed and do not understand what RSI is or how serious it can be.

What are the symptoms of RSI?

The primary warning sign of RSI is pain in the upper extremities (fingers, palms, wrists, forearms, shoulders). The pain may be burning, aching, or shooting. It could be local (e.g., fingertips) or diffuse (e.g., the entire forearm). The pain will typically be increased after a long session of computer use. Keep in mind, however, you can have severe RSI without experiencing pain. The following checklist (adapted from Pascarelli and Quilter), can help you determine whether you have RSI:

Do you experience:

• Fatigue or lack of endurance?
• Weakness in the hands or forearms?
• Tingling, numbness, or loss of sensation?
• Heaviness: Do your hands feel like dead weight?
• Clumsiness: Do you keep dropping things?
• Lack of strength in your hands? Is it harder to open jars? Cut vegetables?
• Lack of control or coordination?
• Chronically cold hands?
• Heightened awareness? Just being slightly more aware of a body part can be a clue that something is wrong.
• Hypersensitivity?
• Frequent self-massage (subconsciously)?
• Sympathy pains? Do your hands hurt when someone else talks about their hand pain?

Repercusions of RSI

If you develop RSI, and do not take steps to correct the problem, there may be serious repercussions. RSI  at its worst may cause you to be unable to open doors, prepare your own food, do laundry, drive, write, type, and shake hands. This can last for a long period of time, up to years. You may be unable to type regularly for  years. Many RSI sufferers complain of similar problems. In addition to limiting your day-to-day functionality, this decreased independence can cause a significant emotional burden.

Meilus Muscular Therapy Can Help

The cause of RSI is NOT usually located in the hand or wrist. Shortened muscles can apply pressure to nerves at any point from the neck to the wrist. By lengthening the muscles responsible for causing the pain and numbness symptoms can be greatly decreased.