Repetitve stain injuries (RSI) are typically the over-use of an object or activity with repeated identical movements. Generally affected are muscles, tendons and nerves in the upper back, arms and hands, with recurred pain, numbness, tingling, and the slowing of strength and endurance capabilities.
Reports of RSI in Australia indicate that the numbers, costs to employers and employees are steadily on th rise.
Common conditions within the RSI family are tennis elbow, golfer’s knee, typist’s wrist, jogger’s ankle, carpal tunnel, tendonitis, bursitis and, more recently, “gamer’s thumb” and “Blackberry thumb”.
Techniques such as trigger point therapy can be very effective for the relief of pain and inflammation of RSI. A remedial massage treatment will also help to reduce overall stress and aid in relaxing muscles – common issues that are identified as key factors in the development of RSI and persistence of RSI.
RSI cases are ever increasing. It is reported that 60% of worker’s compensation claims in the US are for RSI complaints and similar conditions (Quilter, 1998). Although there are no comparable Australia -wide statistics available, 8/10 computer users in the Australian Public Service reported symptoms of overuse injury (Comcare, 1997).