overuse strain injury


overuse strain injury

(medical)(Or "repetitive strain injury", RSI, "repetitivestrain disorder") Any tendon or muscle injury resulting fromoveruse, usually in the hand, wrist, or arm. Injury may becaused by any combination of repetitive, unacustomed, orprolonged movements, forcefulness, or an awkward position(often due to bad ergonomics). The symptoms are pain,tingling, weakness, numbness, swelling, cracking, stiffness,or reduced coordination.

Common conditions are:

Carpal tunnel syndrome, where swelling of the membrane liningsin your wrist surrounding the tendons that bend your fingerscompresses the median nerve. This may result in numbness andpain in the hand, arm, shoulder, and neck.

Tennis elbow, where rotating your wrist and using force causesa form of epicondylitis.

Tendinitis, where unacustomed exercise or repeated awkwardmovements inflame wrist, elbow, or shoulder tendons, oftenleading to severe stiffness.

Trigger finger, a popping or catching sensation when you bendyour finger, wrist, or shoulder. This form of tenosynovitisis caused by repetitive hand movements.

To prevent the condition worsening, treat the pain with heat,cold, or aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen sodium; rest; orimmobilise the injured area with a splint or bandage. See adoctor.

Amara's RSI information.

RSI links from Yahoo.

Guide to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

CTS from Yahoo.