Many people tend to do the same tasks day in and day out at work. However, this can potentially lead to a repetitive strain injury. It can be hard to do your work when dealing with one of these injuries. Therefore, it’s important to know what to look for, and how to avoid them…
Repetitive Strain Injury
What they are
A repetitive stain injury, like the name implies, is a type of strain that happens due to repeated motions. This can include both those done at work, and those done at home. In general, these injuries tend to effect soft tissue, like muscles and nerves. Doctors also refer to these injuries as overuse syndrome and cumulative trauma disorders.
There’s many kinds of injuries which fall under this category. For example, carpal tunnel is one of the most common repetitive injuries. Tennis elbow is also another common injury, as well as tendinitis. Even shin splints can be due to repetitive strain!
Causes & symptoms
The most common cause behind a repetitive strain injury is doing an action too many times without a break. Still, what kind of motion you’re doing is also important. If you’re working at an awkward angle, then it increases the risk of injury. So does working while fatigued.
Usually, these injuries pop up in the hands, wrists, and elbows, but they can happen all over the body. You can usually tell when these injuries are occurring if you feel a constant pain, tingling, and numbness. Eventually, it can lead to a loss in flexibility and strength in the impacted area.
Potential treatment
If you have a repetitive strain injury, there’s a few treatment options you can try. In general, it’s always helpful to take a break when you feel some pain, in order to give your body a chance to rest. Practicing some stretches, or applying something like ice to the area can also help.
For more serious injuries, you’re doctor might recommend some kind of pain reliever. Physical therapy might also help to relieve the soreness and overall pain. Sometimes, surgery can be required to prevent permanent damage. Still, this tends to be for rare cases.