Which of the following persons are at risk for repetitive strain injury (RSI select all that apply)
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Repetitive strain injury (RSI) is most commonly related to the overuse and strain on the muscles, tendons and soft tissues of the upper part of the body like the wrists, forearms, shoulders, elbows, back or neck. (1-6) Show
The cause of RSI lies in repetitive microscopic trauma that occurs due to strain on the muscles and joints. This repeated trauma at the microscopic level leads to tendonitis or inflammation of the tendons, tenosynovitis or inflammation of the tendons and synovial sleeve or sheath covering the muscles and tendons. Mechanism that leads to RSIThe actual underlying mechanism that leads to inflammation is not clear. Factors that lead to RSICommon factors that lead to RSI deep within the muscles and tendons include:
Activities that raise the risk of RSIActivities that can raise the risk of RSI include:
Working in cold climates, with instruments that vibrate and stress also raises the risk of RSI. RSI tends to worsen by pressure related movements like twisting, hammering and pounding, squeezing, pushing, pulling, lifting or reaching. Other factors are too fast or excessive workloads, long hours and lack of rest in between. When does RSI occur?Commonly the affected persons are unable to pin point the exact time when their condition began. This makes RSI different from an acute or sudden injury to a muscle or tendon due to an accident. The inflammation affects the lining around tendons that hurts when the wrist and fingers are straightened or bent but usually not when they are at a neutral position. Jobs associated with RSIJobs commonly associated with RSI include:
Classification of RSI riskRisk of RSI thus can be classified as awkward or static posture, force, repetition of movements, and vibration. Awkward or Static PostureAn awkward posture occurs when the body remains at a position different from its neutral position. This includes:
When the body is in a neutral position there is maximum work efficiency with the least amount of energy use. Static posture refers to being in the same position neutral or awkward for long periods of time. Continuous use of the same set of muscles cause them to develop fatigue. Examples are constant standing, or twisting the neck to see a poorly placed computer monitor. Prolonged static phase of muscles leads to affected blood supply to the muscles and RSI. ForceAll work requires force. However, if the force required to perform the activity overloads the muscles, joints, tendons etc. there may be excessive strain on the tissues leading to RSI. This could be due to reaching more than an arm’s reach, handling heavy objects, improper or tight gripping or high amounts of force applied over a small area leading to pressure points. Excessive force, like repetitive movements does not allow time for the muscles to fully recover between movements. Repetition of movementsThese are dangerous when they use the same joints and muscle groups over and over. This leads to muscle fatigue that is unable to rest in between two movements. Eventually, it takes more effort to perform the same actions. VibrationVibrations responsible for RSI are of two major types: hand or arm vibrations or whole body vibrations. Hand/arm vibration affects people who operate power driven hand tools like drills, jack hammers, air guns, chain saws etc. Total Body Vibration is seen among heavy equipment operators, heavy vehicle drivers etc. This type of vibration injury often contributes to low back pain. Further Reading
Last Updated: May 3, 2019  Written by Dr. Ananya MandalDr. Ananya Mandal is a doctor by profession, lecturer by vocation and a medical writer by passion. She specialized in Clinical Pharmacology after her bachelor's (MBBS). For her, health communication is not just writing complicated reviews for professionals but making medical knowledge understandable and available to the general public as well. CitationsPlease use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:
Who is at risk of repetitive strain injury?For example, you can get RSI if: you do repetitive activities like hairdressing, decorating, typing or working on an assembly line. you play sports like golf or tennis that involve lots of repetitive movements. you have poor posture when sitting or standing at work.
What 4 things can cause repetitive injuries?Some activities that can increase your risk for RSI are:. stressing the same muscles through repetition.. maintaining the same posture for long periods of time.. maintaining an abnormal posture for an extended period of time, such as holding your arms over your head.. lifting heavy objects.. Where do RSI most commonly occur?Repetitive strain injuries are very common and usually affect your:. Fingers and thumbs.. Wrists.. Elbows.. Shoulders.. Knees.. What is the most common type of repetitive strain injury?The most common types of repetitive motion injuries are tendinitis and bursitis. These two disorders are difficult to differentiate and many times may coexist. A tendon is a white fibrous tissue that connects muscle to bone and allows for movement at all joints throughout the human body.
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